Triathlete wants podium finish London

NATALIE Van Coevorden wants a podium finish when she represents Australia at the under-23s triathlon world championships in London next month.

Nat wants the podium

GLEN Alpine triathlete Natalie Van Coevorden wants a podium finish when she pulls on the green and gold at the under-23s world championships in London next month.

The 20-year-old was selected in the seven-strong Australian contingent and will run the 2012 London Olympic track in Hyde Park between September 11 and 15.

Van Coevorden told the Macarthur Chronicle she was honoured to represent Australia again.

"It's always exciting getting selected for an Australian team as you get to wear the green and gold with pride," she said.

"The most exciting part is that we race on the Olympic course from London 2012." Van Coevorden said she wanted a podium finish after a credible fifth place at last year's event.

"If I put myself in the race from the start, in the swim, I'm giving myself every chance to be in the top three at the end," she said.

"I only get to race this category once a year so this is a real chance to prove myself within the girls of my age." She has had excellent form leading into the world championships, with a 10th place at the Palamos World Cup in Spain and 26th at the World Triathlon Series sprint in Hamburg.

Van Coevorden will compete in the Stockholm World Championships and a race in Paris before heading off to London.