I know I’m in good form and happy that I’ve been able to demonstrate that today. “I’m really pleased with my performances today across the two races. Aaron Royle and Emma Jeffcoat showed off incredible form to win overall. The thrilling super-sprint race format meant that athletes left nothing on the racing track. Unfortunately Backhouse was forced to withdraw before the relay final, after a bike crash on the technical course in the first race heat. A few more elite athlete names added to the start list, to test their best in the mixed relay format, including Olympians Emma Jackson, Ryan Fisher, Olympic hopefuls Emma Jeffcoat and Luke Willian and Commonwealth Games Mixed Relay medallist Gillian Backhouse. With a few days between races and to demonstrate somewhat of a simulation concept to the Olympic triathlon schedule in Tokyo, athletes recovered in time to and race again in the Triathlon Australia Mixed Relay Invitational on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Matthew Hauser stamped intent with an outstanding performance to win the elite men’s race, rising star Brandon Copeland in silver and Olympian Aaron Royle crossing the finish line in fourth place. Jaz Hedgeland displayed an impressive race set-up to earn the silver medal and Chile’s three-time Olympian Barbara Riveros, who is based in Wollongong, Australia, took home bronze in Mooloolaba. Birtwhistle, who had not raced a Standard Distance triathlon in over 12-months, took the bronze medal with a powerful performance in extremely hot and humid race conditions. Gentle produced the perfect race with a strong display of early season form, in an Olympic year, to be awarded the gold medal in the Australian Standard Distance Championships. Gentle, who competed in the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 and Olympic hopeful Birtwhistle lined up in Mooloolaba.

In December 2020 Triathlon Australia announced that the Triathlon Australia Board has ratified the recommendation of the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee (TAESC) to nominate Ashleigh Gentle and Jake Birtwhistle to the Australian Olympic Committee, if Australia earns a quota place for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the completion of the TA qualification period mid year, pending World Triathlon quota allocation. Mirroring the triathlon schedule at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Australia’s elite triathletes were given the opportunity to race in the Australian Standard Distance Championships in Mooloolaba, on Sunday 14 March and the Triathlon Australia Mixed Relay Invitational, at the Gold Coast High Performance Centre, on Thursday 18 March. After the race season came to a halt for many triathletes in March 2020, due to the global pandemic, it was a welcomed scene to sight elite athletes line up for action in the Australian Standard Distance Championships in Queensland, Australia.

Australia olympic games tokyo 2020