Olympic preparations of triathlete Ash Gentle and more in disarray after incident leads to coach sacking

The Olympic preparations of Australia’s leading female triathlete Ashleigh Gentle and other stars have been thrown into disarray following the sudden and mysterious sacking of Triathlon Australia coach Jamie Turner. The high profile coach was axed due to a major breach of contract following an incident ahead of a recent race.

THE Olympic preparations of Australia’s leading female triathlete Ashleigh Gentle and other stars have been thrown into disarray following the sudden and mysterious sacking of Triathlon Australia coach Jamie Turner.

Gentle has been left without a coach and scampering to plot a new path to the 2020 Tokyo Games just over a year out from the event after Triathlon Australia axed Turner.

The decision was made due to a major breach of contract by Turner following an incident leading into the Yokohama leg of the World Triathlon Series, held on May 18.

Turner flew to Japan with Gentle and the team but was given his marching orders and back on a plane on Friday, May 17.

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Gentle wouldn’t reveal the details of the incident that led to Turner’s axing but conceded it compounded an already growing psychological struggle she was having.

She said it contributed to her decision to pull out of the race in Japan halfway through the bike leg.

“It is such a crazy situation,” Gentle said.

“I haven’t been in the best head space for a while now so it might have added to that. It’s been quite stressful.

“I got sick overnight and woke up feeling terrible the day of the race and I think it was a compounding affect of everything that was happening. I shouldn’t have raced but it was one of those things.”

Ashleigh Gentle of Austraia runs during the Mixed Team relay during the Triathlon on day three of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Southport Broadwater Parklands on April 7, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

The result came after a 26th place finish at WTS Bermuda weeks earlier.

The fallout is a huge blow to Gentle given the importance of the coming year where athletes are all trying to qualify for Tokyo, vying for one of three expected men’s and women’s spots given to Australia.

Automatic places will also be available to the top finishing Aussie who can get on the podium at the test event in August in Japan.

Turner has been one of the most respected coaches in world triathlon and the man who helped guide American Gwen Jorgensen to gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics while training her in Australia.

Gentle was due to go to Vitoria, Spain, after the Yokohama race to prepare for the Leeds leg of the WTS but returned home to Australian to be with partner and long-distance triathlete Josh Amberger while formulating a new plan.

Ashleigh Gentle won her maiden Mooloolaba ITU World Cup on Saturday, March 16.

Fellow Australian female triathlon stars Natalie van Coevorden and Emma Jeffcoat have also been affected but chose to continue on to Spain.

Gentle wouldn’t reveal if she had any relationship break down with Turner, who she began working with at the start of 2017, but said she was growing increasingly unhappy and began questioning her training and planning around racing and travel.

Turner’s squad had already spent the off-season training and New Plymouth, New Zealand, and Perisher.

“It was a combination of things that led to my head space being what it was,” Gentle said.

“I did a lot of travel really early on and I was starting to question a few things. When you are not completely happy and away for a long time from home, I think I have handled it well in the past but with a few other things going on it was getting a bit too much.

“I’ll probably limit my travel before Tokyo and always follow my gut feeling because I think that is important and trust myself because I have been doing this sport for a really long time.”

Triathlon confirmed the decision in a statement.

“Triathlon Australia has agreed to formally end the employment contract of Jamie Turner, coach of the international performance centre.

“Triathlon Australia CEO Miles Stewart and national performance director Justin Drew said the decision was made in consultation with Jamie Turner around a breach of his employment contract.

“The sport is committed to ensuring our athletes can remain focused on upcoming races with the support of our national performance director and other specialist staff.”

Tuner remains accredited to coach under Triathlon Australia despite his axing and it’s understood the board of the governing body are currently reviewing his status.

Turner declined to comment on the matter.

Gentle said she wouldn’t rush to find a new coach but remained open to it if needed throughout the year while leaning on Triathlon Australia staff.

The 28-year-old will accompany Amberger to the Oregon, U.S. on Sunday where she will spend time training and compete in the famous Escape From Alcatraz triathlon on June 9 before shifting her focus to WTS races Montreal (June 28) and Edmonton (July 20).

Gentle said the timing of Turner’s sacking in relation to her Tokyo campaign was difficult but remained confident she could reach a second Olympic Games.

“I have been the best performing Australian (female) for a while and I have to actually start to have confidence in myself and what I can do,” Gentle said.

“I won’t put too much pressure on myself in the test event. I’ll use it as a great opportunity to scope the course out and be in the best shape I can.

“If I get a qualification that is fantastic but I also just want to take each race as it comes. If the selectors think I can be at my best on one day at the Olympics then they should take me.

“I know within myself deep down on my best day I can win a medal (at Tokyo).

“My last two races haven’t been the best but I’m not letting that define me, it’s not who I am.”