Medalling in triathlon in 2000 and 2004, Australia again triumphed at the Beijing Games. In 2008 Emma Snowsill won Australia's first ever triathlon gold medal and Emma Moffatt completed an historic double with a bronze medal performance. Moffatt has since won the 2009 World Championship Series, which the well-credentialed Snowsill has herself won three times. If Snowsill reaches the first place podium in London she will become the first triathlete in history to defend an Olympic triathlon title.
As well as Snowsill and Moffatt, a third Aussie Emma is on the horizon in 2009 World Junior Champion, Emma Jackson. Jackson finished 2011 ranked fourth in the world. Beijing Olympian Erin Densham has staked her claim for London selection. She has regained top form after a horror few years of injury and illness, which resulted in heart suregry in 2009 for a long-standing condition. Densham won the Mooloolaba World Cup and Sydney World Championship Series races, and placed second in the San Diego World Cup to kick start 2012. Also fighting for selection are a host of other young athletes including Ashleigh Gentle who has been consistently around the top-10.
Australia’s men are out to bag a coveted triathlon medal, and the rise of Victorian athlete Brendan Sexton in 2011 has them looking in good stead. 2008 Olympians Courtney Atkinson and Brad Kahlefeldt will be pushing for selection whilst Ironman Champion Chris McCormack has switched back to the Olympic-distance triathlon, 14 years after claiming an ITU World Championship title.
The Australian Triathlon Team has not been announced. Emma Moffatt and Brad Kahlefeldt were announced as pre-nominations by Triathlon Australia in Dec 2011. The women have secured three quotas for Australia and the men are in a battle with Canada to secure three spots or face a 2-man Team like Beijing. Triathlon Australia are set to nominate to the AOC on 31 May.
TRIATHLON EVENTS
The women’s triathlon will take place on Saturday 4th August and the men’s competition on Tuesday 7th August. Both men and women contest the same course. Competition starts with a 1,500m swim, followed by a 40km bike ride and a 10km run. There are no heats, the competition is a single race with the first athletes crossing the finishing line winning gold. Expect the men to complete the course in around one hour and 50 minutes with the women around 10 minutes slower.
QUALIFICATION AND SELECTION
Countries qualify for the 55 male and 55 female places based largely on the world rankings of individual athletes over a one year period.
A maximum of eight countries can enter three athletes in each Olympic event, meaning the depth of Australia’s triathlon ranks will be tested.
For all the Nomination and Selection documentation click here>>>
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC HISTORY
Australia’s female athletes have medalled at every Olympics since triathlon was introduced in 2000. Michellie Jones and Loretta Harrop won silver medals in 2000 and 2004 before Australia’s two Emmas - Snowsill and Moffatt, dodged the silver mantle to take gold and bronze respectively at the Beijing Olympic Games.
To learn more about the sport of triathlon and its short Olympic history click here>>>