Australian Olympic Team

For those people out there that aren’t already aware, the Australian triathlon team for the Rio Olympics was announced earlier this week, and sadly, I didn’t make the cut. Firstly I would like to publicly congratulate those who did, Aaron Royle, Ryan Bailie and Ryan Fisher, also Congrats to Emma Moffatt, Ashleigh Gentle and Erin Densham on making the women’s team.

I have to admit I am disappointed to not have capitalised in the automatic selection events in Rio last year and on the Gold Coast last month leaving the third position on the team up to selector’s discretion. I had just one more opportunity to show what I was capable of, at the Yokohama WTS event. In 2015, I placed 9th at Yokohama, it was just my second World Triathlon Series event and still one of the most satisfying races I have had. Ever since I was young, I have wanted to be a successful Olympian, but it wasn’t until this race that I realistically thought I might get that opportunity in just over a years time, sooner than I first thought possible. My Olympic dream has been well and truly alive for a long time, but my chase for the 2016 games was a relatively short one.

I am really happy with my race in Yokohama this year, I finished just off the podium in 4th, my third top ten performance and a career best result. I left Japan believing I had done the best I could, I was happy but also anxious to get the phone call just three days later to hear the verdict.

It was pretty tough hearing the news that I had missed the last spot for Rio. I knew that it was a 50/50 chance and congrats to Ryan Fisher on getting the nod. I’m sure he, alongside my training partners Aaron Royle and Ryan Bailie, will do Australia proud in Rio. I know it won’t be easy watching the boys going off to the Olympics but my day will come, and I’ll be supporting the three of them this time around both as a fan, and a friend.

I could not have done much more under the circumstances. I have worked hard and learnt so much about sport and myself in my short time of racing at this level, and in the 12 months I have got some results that I am really proud of.
It has been a pretty tough week and I would like to thank everyone back home for their support and messages, it’s been fantastic and my coach Jamie Turner and the whole squad, they have all been very supportive.

Although Rio is now off the agenda there is still plenty to look forward to, competing the rest of the 2016 World Series events and my first Elite World Championships final in Cozumel in September. I have finished on the podium as a junior, won the under 23 world title last year and to have a chance of racing as an Elite at 21 is something I would be proud of.

I am in great shape at the moment which I proved by winning race one of the French Grand Prix on the weekend and I plan to continue this for my upcoming events. Next up Leeds WTS.