‘We’ve been lacking’: Two-time Olympian backs Triathlon Australia’s move for a Gold Coast headquarters
A two-time Olympian and CommGames champion has voiced his support for the move made by Triathlon Australia to relocate its headquarters to the Gold Coast, with hopes of bouncing back to be atop the world triathlon stage. Full story:
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Two-time Olympian Matt Hauser has voiced his support for the move made by Triathlon Australia to relocate its headquarters to the Gold Coast, with hopes of bouncing back to be atop the world triathlon stage.
It comes a midst a period grace for the sport, with Australia struggling to produce the calibre of athletes seen in the likes of Emma Moffatt and Emma Snowsill.
Hauser said the nature of a centralised program is what has been lacking the past Olympic cycles.
“It’s great to centralise a program as we’ve seen in other countries like Great Britain who have a fantastic triathlon program,” he said.
“They’ve seen some great growth and obviously great success on the world stage because (of it).
“While it’s a little bit tougher for Australia, with five or six hour flights from coast to coast, it’s good to have everyone on the Gold Coast.
“If junior (athletes) can see a clear pathway from developing into elite and Olympic level, it really is beneficial.
“(It’s) something we’ve been lacking in the past, but I hope centralising this program will make that clear for the younger ones coming through.”
A 2018 gold and 2022 bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games, Hauser said it was clear the rest of the world had started to catch up this past decade - the current format of triathlon young in itself.
“During those early years, there was only five or six countries that were really truly competitive,” he said.
“Now we’ve seen a globalisation of the sport and Europe has come to play.
“It’s at a whole new level.
“Things come in waves ... and Australia has had a lot of time in the spotlight which is great for our history with so many medallists and World Champions, but there’s been a bit of time for the rest of the world to catch up.
“We’ll have to match their strides for the years to come.”
Hervey Bay-born, the 26-year-old moved to the Gold Coast in similar fashion eight years ago and believes it is the perfect balance of city and country.
“It does offer everything that a destination place needs for something like this,” Hauser said.
“To settle on the Gold Coast, I think is an easy decision.
“The more exposure you give to a place, the more familiar it is ... that was the feeling I had.
“I fell in love with the Gold Coast.
“(It) offers so much with the Hinterland for riding, beautiful beaches, and there’s enough going on for young (athletes) to be entertained and come here with high hopes of getting a good experience, not just in triathlon, but quality of life.
“Brisbane has a lot of great facilities and is drenched in the history of sport, but Gold Coast is certainly batting above the average.”
On the note of Brisbane, Hauser said the idea alone of Brisbane 2032 will help push stars - new and seasoned - further.
“Having Brisbane 2032 on the cards is going to produce and bring to life a lot of talent in Australia ... that’s just super motivational.
The Games could be Hauser’s fourth.
“It’s been a great honour to represent my country at two, but to do it on home soil would be absolutely amazing.
“I know that kids growing up and coming through the system now would be looking at those Games and be thinking ‘how cool would that be’.
“Having a carrot to chase will certainly provide a boost of talent and recognition.
“Sport is booming in this country and triathlon wants to be a part of that.”
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Originally printed:
Monday December 17
Triathlon Australia has unveiled the Gold Coast as its new home from 2025 as part of a long-term partnership with the city leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“There is so (much) wonderful return … it shows that the Gold Coast is a leader in the field of training, medical research and recovery,” Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said.
“It’s a great place to come and run, cycle and swim.”
The exciting partnership is set to provide 14 new jobs, inject $30 million to the local economy and support over 90 national pathway athletes to regularly train on the Gold Coast.
Triathlon Australia CEO Tim Harradine said the move from its current headquarters in Brisbane would make Gold Coast the home of triathlon leading into 2032, the city having already produced world-class athletes – including Olympic gold medallist and three-time World Champion Emma Snowsill – and proving a worthy host of countless World Championship events.
“The Gold Coast is just the perfect training base for our athletes … we’ve got such a storeyed history (here),” Harradine said.
“It’s an opportunity for us to elevate our high performance.
“We’re looking to up our game and we want to live out the vision of extraordinary performances and people inspiring the nation.
“That starts right here.”
Alongside the move, Harradine revealed plans for a new academy to be launched early in the new year aimed at boosting growth and performance of up-and-coming triathletes.
The academy, split into three tiers of ‘Achieve, Accent and Aspire’, will feature approximately 20 of Australia’s best under-23 talents who plan to either relocate or train remotely.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Paris Olympian Matt Hauser has been based on the Gold Coast for nearly a decade and believes the move is a step in the right direction.
“(Gold Coast) has been my home for eight years so I’ve certainly benefited from the training facilities,” he said.
“The more athletes involved, the more growth in the sport there’s going to be and Gold Coast is certainly an important part of that … to have the whole triathlon family in Australia here to together, working together towards a similar goal.
“Heading into the 2032 Olympics, it’s going to be super exciting.”
Harradine said hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Triathlons on the Gold Coast is an achievable dream, and hopes this partnerships will provide a strong nudge of support.
Originally published as ‘We’ve been lacking’: Two-time Olympian backs Triathlon Australia’s move for a Gold Coast headquarters
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