Emily Doyle overcomes injury to win Coolangatta Gold shortcourse title

A BADLY sprained ankle may have severely restricted her training but it was not enough to stop Emily Doyle from winning a second Coolangatta Gold title.

A BADLY sprained ankle may have severely restricted her training but it was not enough to stop Emily Doyle from winning a second Coolangatta Gold title.

Doyle won the open shortcourse event after winning the under-19 division last year and while she would need to polish her ski skills before tackling the long-course event, few would bet against her after her display on Saturday.

The Sydney surf lifesaver, who trains with the Newport club while completing Year 12 at Davidson High School and working three jobs, said she decided to give the open division “a crack” this season despite her hectic schedule.

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Coolangatta Gold shortcourse women's winners Emily Doyle (centre), Jazmin Lewsam (left) and Kiera Albertsen (right). Photo: Harvpix

“I raced last year and won the under 19s with hardly any training,” Doyle said.

“I just went in it last year hoping for the best and this year I came back for the opens thinking maybe I can have a real crack with the big girls and today was really good, I surprised myself with the win.”

The surprise came after a preparation disrupted by a serious ankle injury that prevented Doyle from swimming or running – key components of the 21km course – and forced her out of the NSW state swimming championships.

But the swim was her strong point on Saturday, with Doyle entering the water in seventh place after the ski and emerging in the lead before going on to take the race win in 2hr 36min 55sec ahead of Jazmin Lewsam (2:37.58) and Kiera Albertsen (2:45.06).

“The swim was like a swim down for me,” Doyle said.

“I ran in tired and came out fresh. On the ski I just sat back on the wash and made sure I wasn’t too far behind and as soon as that swim was over I knew it was my time to put my head down and get going.

“I swam past all the girls before 500m which was the goal.”

Grace Harris won the under-19 division after tackling the race for the first time last year in a team category with her brother.

Harris crossed in 2:39.50, a time that would have been good enough for bronze in the open division for the 17-year-old.

The Victorian trained through winter with her Torquay teammates, donning the thickest wetsuit possible and booties while ski and board paddling in the frigid southern ocean.