Triathlon - Home

Triathlon is a challenging blend of three endurance sports - swimming, cycling and running. However, it is one single sport, not a collection of these three sports and as such; triathletes have very specific training needs. Triathletes do need swimming, cycling and running fitness and skills, but they also need the proper sequencing of training that gives them technique, endurance, strength, speed and recovery.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Triathlon program is overseen by TA/AIS National Performance Director Michael Flynn and AIS Senior Coach Shaun Stephens.

The AIS triathlon program has evolved from its initial inception in 2001 as a Junior Elite program; to an Elite program that caters for all ages of athletes focused on the draft legal ITU racing. Since  2004 its  focus of supporting and targeting Australia’s elite triathletes competing in Olympic distance events at Olympic and Commonwealth Games, ITU World Championships and the ITU World Cup series.

The AIS triathlon program works in partnership with Triathlon Australia (TA) and is an integral component of TA’s national high performance plan. (For more information on the TA’s high performance pathways please see the Triathlon Australia website (below).

The AIS triathlon program is focused on assisting, developing and providing world leading cutting edge support to our best elite triathletes with a specific target outcome of winning medals at the ITU World Championship Series races culminating at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Operated as a decentralized program, triathletes train in their home environment with their home based coaches. The AIS provides support - added value - for both coaches and the triathlete to attend camps, clinics, and project focused activity; access to sport science and sports medicine services and to use the latest sports performance technology.

The principle aims of the AIS triathlon program are:

  • To help Australian elite triathletes achieve medal success at the ITU World Championship series races and 2012 London Olympic Games; 
  • To help the athletes develop the physical, physiological and psychological basis to be able to handle the workload required to succeed at the highest elite level in Triathlon;
  • To support and assist the coaches of AIS athletes; 
  • To examine specific needs of Triathlon in race situations and work to optimize training methods and race tactics; 
  • To provide the athletes with the support while living as a professional sportsperson in various locations and situations; and 
  • To develop the highest levels of professionalism in all aspects of the sport of Triathlon.

AIS Triathlon program success

Under the guidance of the program’s inaugural head coach (2001-05), former world champion triathlete Jackie Fairweather (nee Gallagher) the program achieved remarkable success.

Most recently, four current AIS scholarship holders competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with Emma Moffatt winning a bronze medal in the women’s event. Former AIS scholarship holder Emma Snowsill won the Women’s Gold medal in a remarkable achievement from both women.

The program was awarded the 2005 AIS sport program of the year.

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Australia is one of only two nations to have competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games.

Quick numbers

700 athlete scholarships are offered annually at the AIS.
263 current and former AIS athletes competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
142 Olympic medals have been won by athletes from the AIS since its establishment.
40 thousand kilometres were swum by Petria Thomas while at the AIS.
1 million people visit the AIS each year.
More ASC statistics