Ashleigh Gentle hoping triathlon seachange will secure her spot at Commonwealth Games

ASHLEIGH Gentle left behind her family, friends and boyfriend for a seachange she hopes will deliver her a spot on the Commonwealth Game in a years time.

Ashleigh Gentle chaasing Commonwealth Games selection.

• Pearson has reason to celebrate
• Sporting mums on the run
• Sally and Steph school rivals
• World surf race: Aussies to cheer for
• Super Netball: complete guide

RIO Olympian Ashleigh Gentle has left behind her family, friends, boyfriend and the comforts of home for a sea change she hopes will deliver her a spot on the Commonwealth Game in a years time.

Gentle will put her decision to relocate almost 1000km from her home in Queensland to the NSW town of Wollongong to the test on Saturday at the Gold Coast leg of the world triathlon series.

And as difficult and disruptive as it has been to leave normal life behind, Gentle believes her decision to head to the Wollongong base of coach Jamie Turner will be a winning move, hopefully sooner rather than later.

AUSSIE RIDING HIGH IN THE SURF

GIANTS DOWN SWIFTS...AGAIN

Ashleigh Gentle competing at the Olympics in Rio.

“I wasn’t happy with what happened in Rio, it was a big disappointment to me,’’ said Gentle, a medal hopeful who finished 26th in the women's triathlon. “It was a bad day and it didn’t ever get any better.

CYCLIST RIDES TO HISTORY

“I was down but then I go really motivate by it. It motivated me to make big changes in my career and my life. It made me want to make myself a better athlete.’’

Gentle believes her new training environment under Turner is what is required to restart her career as she bids to race at both the Commonwealth Game and a second Olympic in Tokyo in 2020.

GUIDE TO SUPER NETBALL

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TICKETS ON SALE

Ashleigh Gentle has moved from her home to train.

Gentle can make life significantly easier for herself by being the first Australian woman to finish in the top 10 in Saturday’s sprint race on the Gold Coast. a feat which would secure her automatic qualification into the 2018 Games.

“Everyone knows having a year to prepare is a big, big advantage,’’ Gentle said.

World No.1 Andrea Hewitt from New Zealand headlines the elite women's field which also includes Australians Gillian Backhouse, Charlotte McShane, Emma Jeffcoat and Emma Jackson.

Five time world champion Javier Gomez heads the men’s field that includes Olympic bronze medallist Henri Schoeman and Australians Ryan Baillie, Jake Birtwhistle and Ryan Fisher.