Sport Overview

Triathlon Australia (TA) has a history of success in the under 23 elite category at World Championship level. Athletes such as Brad Kahlefeldt, Annabel Luxford, Nikki Egyed and Erin Densham have all won World Under 23 championships. Moreover, Brad Kahlefeldt and Annabel Luxford have gone onto elite level success. In 2005 and 2006, Brad won a World Championship bronze medal and the Commonwealth Games gold medal. Annabel won a world championship silver medal and finished the year ranked the number one triathlete in the world.The under 23 elite category at World Championships is an excellent indicator of elite triathlon potential. Athletes that finish in the top three in the under 23 category clearly demonstrate the physical and psychological attributes required to perform at the highest level.

The aim of the NTID Triathlon program is to maximise obtaining a result at the 2012 London Olympic Games with a two-pronged attack consisting of the identification of new talent into the sport (TRIChamps) and the development of current junior athletes (Young Guns).

The Talent Identification Program, called 'TRIChamps', will involve the identification of new talent from:

• cross referencing swimming and cross-country running results
• the development of an aquathlon competition
• talent transfer from Surf Life Saving
• family history ie. siblings. These athletes will be identified in “hot spot” regions around Australia where a coach and infrastructure has been identified to assist in the development of the talent.

The Talent Development Program, called the 'Young Guns' will be developed to fast track those juniors who are already in the sport and show potential to develop into elite triathletes with an enhanced training and competition environment. These athletes will gain competition exposure through the ITU Continental Cup racing in Asia (ie. China, Korea, Singapore). These races are of a standard to enhance the development of existing junior triathletes. A development coach will also attend these races (with a senior/head coach) to gain significant international exposure (travel and competition).

Current Projects

TRIChamps

Currently the program has eight athletes who have been identified from surf life saving, swimming and running. They are now training to be the next generation of Triathletes with some of the best Triathlon coaches in Australia. The athletes recently attended a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra where they were exposed to many services to assist in their development. Athletes undertook physiological testing in the pool, on the bike and treadmill, they learnt the fine art of bike handling and learnt how to fuel their bodies appropriately with a nutrition lecture.

Young Guns

The 'Young Guns' are athletes who are already in the sport of Triathlon but with enhanced training and access to international competition, can take the next step. This year’s 'Young Guns' tour took the athletes to Europe and Asia. The athletes had some exceptional results with a number of podiums. The athletes were exposed to travelling internationally, foreign languages, competing against some of the best juniors in the world and living out of a suitcase. The opportunity showed them what it is like to be a high performance triathlete and also what it takes.

Squads

TRIChamps

• Paige Single (NSW)
• Ben Allen (NSW)
• Aaron Terechovs (NSW)
• Alana Yardley (NSW)
• Shane Barrie (NSW)
• Reece Heald (QLD)  
• Stephanie Auston (NSW)

Coaches: Aaron Lean (NSW), Jamie Turner (NSW), Grant Giles (NSW), Toby Coote (QLD), Warwick Dalziel (QLD).

Young Guns 2007

• Gareth Halverson (VIC)
• Jamie Rhodes (VIC)
• Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (WA)
• Adam Carlton (QLD)
• Brent Schuster (VIC)
• Dane Robinson (ACT)
• Mel Sexton (NSW)
• Nathan Campbell (QLD)
• Samuel Betten (QLD)

Young Guns 2008

• Adam Carlton (QLD)
• James Seear (QLD)
• Joshua Amberger (QLD)
• Joshua Maeder (QLD)
• Joshua McHugh (NSW)
• Chris Rawling (QLD)
• Samuel Betten (QLD)
• Cameron Good (NSW)
• Sarah Crowley (QLD)

Results

Shichigahama Continental Cup

• Sarah Crowley 1st
• James Seear 1st
• Joshua Maeder 2nd
• Joshua Amberger 3rd

OSIM Singapore International Triathlon

• Sarah Crowley 2nd
• James Seear 2nd
• Joshua McHugh 3rd
• Joshua Amberger 4th
• Samuel Beeten 5th
• Adam Carlton 6th
• Joshua Maeder 7th

2007 Honolulu Pan American Cup

• Gareth Halverson 2^nd

2007 Madrid Elite Sprint

• Jamie Rhodes 5^th
• Felicity Sheedy-Ryan 1^st

2007 Donosti Sprint

• Jamie Rhodes 1^st
• Felicity Sheedy-Ryan 1^st

2007 Lekeitioko Sprint

• Gareth Halverson 1^st
• Felicity Sheedy-Ryan 1^st
• Jamie Rhodes 3^rd

2007 Gamagori ITU Asian Cup

• Gareth Halverson 2^nd
• Adam Carlton 3^rd

2007 Shichigahama ITU Asian Cup

• Gareth Halverson 2^nd
• Adam Carlton 4^th
• Felicity Sheedy-Ryan 3^rd

Program Supporters

• Triathlon Australia
• NSW Institute of Sport
• Queensland Academy of Sport

Contacts/Links

Triathlon Australia

NSW Institute of Sport

Triathlon NSW

QLD Academy of Sport

Triathlon Queensland

For further information and enquiries please click here

Testimonials

"The support provided to these developing athletes and their respective performances has been noted by existing HP athletes and been commented on that continued support will lead to improved performances and greater athlete development than in the past". Aaron Lean, TA NTID Head Coach

“I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to be able to go down to the AIS and see what it is all about. The camp was awesome and I learnt a lot from the experience that I will be able to help further my career, in the sport”. Ben Allen, TRIChamps athlete

Did you know?

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

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