Australia confirms triathlon team for Commonwealth Games
Olympians Emma Moffatt and Emma Jackson among team of six athletes racing in Glasgow
Olympians Emma Moffatt and Emma Jackson and former U23 World Champion Aaron Royle are among the athletes picked to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.
Announcing the six-strong triathlon team earlier today, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association said it hopes to build on Melbourne 2006, when Emma Snowsill and Brad Kahlefeldt both won gold medals.
The full Australian team for Glasgow 2014 will be:
– Emma Moffatt, 29, who won bronze at the 2008 Olympics
– Emma Jackson, 22, who came sixth overall at last year’s World Triathlon Series
– Ashleigh Gentle, 23, a former ITU World Junior champion
– Aaron Royle, 24, who claimed bronze at WTS Auckland a couple of weeks ago
– Dan Wilson, 28, who came fourth in Auckland behind teammate Royle
– Ryan Bailie, 23, who came fifth in the same race
“Making the Commonwealth Games has always been a dream,” said Moffatt. “We have a wonderful tradition when it comes to Games triathlon and to be part of this Australian team with all the other sports will be such fun – I can’t wait.”
Triathlon New Zealand also just revealed its own team for Glasgow 2014, comprising of Tom Davison, Tony Dodds, Andrea Hewitt, Kate McIlroy and Ryan Sissons, with Nicky Samuels named as a reserve for the Mixed Relay event.
Meanwhile, Ironman UK champion Dan Halksworth told BBC Radio Jersey yesterday how excited he is to represent Jersey this summer; the British Home Nation teams are expected to be confirmed within the next couple of months.
Triathletes will be racing over Olympic distance (1.5km/40km/10km) at Strathclyde Country Park, with the men’s and women’s finals taking place on Thursday 24 July, and the Mixed Relay event (a new inclusion for this year’s Games) being held on Saturday 26 July.
(Image: Delly Carr/ITU)
Who do you think will triumph in the triathlon at Glasgow 2014? Let us know in the comments below!