Five Years Worth the Wait: Gentle Storms to Third in 70.3 Worlds Debut
From a dodgy swim sight to a blistering 1:16 run split, our Aussie gun showed why patience pays off, running through the field for her first worlds podium in Taupo.
If you're going to make your 70.3 World Championship debut, you might as well do it properly. Just ask Ash Gentle, who casually ran her way onto the podium in Taupo with the kind of performance that had even the Kiwi crowd forgetting about that whole Bledisloe thing.
"I'm pretty relieved," Gentle told me post-race, looking remarkably fresh for someone who'd just thrown down a 1:16 run split in December. "I didn't really know how that was going to pan out."
Spoiler alert: it panned out just fine.
The Road Less Traditional
Here's the thing about Gentle's path to the podium - it's been five years in the making. No, seriously. She first qualified for this race back in 2019 at Xiamen, when COVID was still just something you might catch from a dodgy post-race buffet.
"It feels a little bit surreal that we're finally in Taupo," she admitted. "Five years since I originally qualified... it's just so great that we can finally get this event here in New Zealand."
The Race Breakdown
Let's talk about that swim for a second. When the sun's doing its best laser impression and you're trying to sight buoys in Lake Taupo, being 44 seconds back isn't the end of the world. But it's what happened next that showed why Gentle's been one of Australia's most consistent performers.
Shawn Smith
The bike? That was like watching someone play chess while riding a mechanical bull. The dynamics of a 12-meter draft zone had everyone doing more math than a Year 12 exam, but Gentle kept her cool, working her way through the field despite "burning a few matches early" (her words, not mine).
But it was the run where Gentle reminded everyone why she's got "two-time Olympian" on her resume. Starting in eighth, she methodically picked off the competition like she was collecting Pokemon. The pass on Julie Derron for the final podium spot? Pure tactical brilliance. Let them come back to you, then make it stick - Textbook stuff.
The Numbers That Matter
- Swim: 44 seconds back (17th)
- Bike: Moved to 8th
- Run: 1:16 (because why not?)
- Final Time: 4:03:01
- Podium: ✓
Looking Ahead
"I emptied the tank so many times this year," Gentle reflected, which might be the understatement of 2024. But here's what makes this result even more impressive - she's been racing since April, kicked off in Singapore's furnace, and somehow managed to keep the engine running all the way to December.
The Bigger Picture
In a year where short-course athletes have been making waves in the 70.3 world (looking at you, Taylor Nib), Gentle's performance proves there's more than one way to skin a cat. Or in this case, more than one way to reach a world championship podium.
For the stat nerds out there, this makes Gentle's transition to middle-distance racing look about as smooth as her run form. Add this podium to her collection of 70.3 wins and you've got to wonder - what's next for our newest podium star?
"I really can't ask for much more," she said post-race, which is exactly what you'd expect from someone who just schooled most of the field in their world championship debut.
Though if you're asking us, we reckon there might be a bit more in the tank for 2025. Just don't tell her that until after she's had a proper off-season break. Some things are better left for next year's race planning.
For now, let's just appreciate what we witnessed: an Aussie running her way onto a world championship podium in December, making it look if not easy, then at least achievable. That's the thing about class - it always shows up, even if it takes five years to get to the start line.
