Tokyo Olympics: Why triathlon’s bid for medals just increased dramatically

At 11pm on Saturday night triathlon boss Miles Stewart was screaming at his computer in delight as Australia’s chances of winning a historic medal in Tokyo increased dramatically.

Northern beaches triathlete Emma Jeffcoat is one of the women hoping to snare a spot at the Tokyo Olympics.

Just an hour before the cut-off, Australia managed to qualify the most athletes of any nation for the Tokyo Olympic triathlon thanks to a race in Mexico being contested by a lone Newcastle athlete.

Sydney Olympian and Triathlon Australia boss Miles Stewart said he couldn’t believe what he was watching when the only man who could prevent Australia fielding three athletes in Tokyo failed to get the result he needed in a world cup race in Mexico.

Aaron Royle from Newcastle is hoping to snare one of the two mens spots still available on the team heading to Tokyo.

“It was 11pm, literally at the 11th hour for us,’’ Stewart said.

While Newcastle’s Aaron Royle failed to finish the race, it ended up having no bearing on Australian qualifying three men to race both the individual triathlon and the new mixed teams relay in Tokyo.

“No other country in the world has qualified three men and three women. This is huge,’’ said Stewart after locals accrued enough points at the Oceania titles in Port Douglas on Saturday to also secure three women’s spots.

The qualification of three men and three women – the maximum allowed for any country in triathlon at the Games, means Australia has a deeper pool than any other nation to draw from for the mixed triathlon relay and more backup for designated athletes in the individual events.

Jake Birtwhistle and Ash Gentle are Australia’s top chances of a medal in Tokyo.

Jake Birtwhistle is considered a potential medal chance in the men’s race while the experienced Ashleigh Gentle, a former junior world champion, could surprise in the women’s.

Selectors meet on Monday to discuss the make-up of the team with athletes like Royle, Sydney’s Emma Jeffcoat and Natalie Van Coevorden, Jaz Hedgeland, Matt Hauser and Luke Wilhelm in contention.

The mixed relay is considered Australia’s best chance of a medal.

In 2017 Team Australia won the to the mixed relay world title in Hamburg after the event was confirmed on the program at the Tokyo Olympics.

France won in 2018 ahead of Australia who finished third in 2019.

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