AIS Program Overview
Triathlon is a challenging blend of three endurance sports - swimming, cycling and running. However, it is one single sport, not a collection of these three sports and as such; triathletes have very specific training needs. Triathletes do need swimming, cycling and running fitness and skills, but they also need the proper sequencing of training that gives them technique, endurance, strength, speed and recovery.
About the program
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Triathlon program is overseen by TA/AIS National Performance Director Michael Flynn and AIS Senior Coach Shaun Stephens.
The AIS triathlon program has evolved from its initial inception in 2001 as a Junior Elite program; to an Elite program that caters for all ages of athletes focused on the draft legal ITU racing. Since 2004 its focus of supporting and targeting Australia's elite triathletes competing in Olympic distance events at Olympic and Commonwealth Games, ITU World Championships and the ITU World Cup series.
The AIS triathlon program works in partnership with Triathlon Australia (TA) and is an integral component of TA's national high performance plan. (For more information on the TA's high performance pathways please see the Triathlon Australia website (below).
The AIS triathlon program is focused on assisting, developing and providing world leading cutting edge support to our best elite triathletes with a specific target outcome of winning medals at the ITU World Championship Series races culminating at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Operated as a decentralized program, triathletes train in their home environment with their home based coaches. The AIS provides support - added value - for both coaches and the triathlete to attend camps, clinics, and project focused activity; access to sport science and sports medicine services and to use the latest sports performance technology.
The principle aims of the AIS triathlon program are:
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To help Australian elite triathletes achieve medal success at the ITU World Championship series races and 2012 London Olympic Games;
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To help the athletes develop the physical, physiological and psychological basis to be able to handle the workload required to succeed at the highest elite level in Triathlon;
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To support and assist the coaches of AIS athletes;
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To examine specific needs of Triathlon in race situations and work to optimize training methods and race tactics;
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To provide the athletes with the support while living as a professional sportsperson in various locations and situations; and
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To develop the highest levels of professionalism in all aspects of the sport of Triathlon.
To help Australian elite triathletes achieve medal success at the ITU World Championship series races and 2012 London Olympic Games;
To help the athletes develop the physical, physiological and psychological basis to be able to handle the workload required to succeed at the highest elite level in Triathlon;
To support and assist the coaches of AIS athletes;
To examine specific needs of Triathlon in race situations and work to optimize training methods and race tactics;
To provide the athletes with the support while living as a professional sportsperson in various locations and situations; and
To develop the highest levels of professionalism in all aspects of the sport of Triathlon.
About the sport
The sport of triathlon is very young as compared to other Olympic sports and was invented in the early 1970's and is made up of 3 individual disciplines, swimming, riding and running in that order run in conjunction. The winner is the first person over the line in any particular event.
Triathlon can be made up of many different distances with the main events being the Ironman distance of 3.8km swim, 180km ride and then a 42.2km run and drafting is illegal. The Olympic event is a 1.5km swim, 40km ride and then a 10km run where drafting is legal and can be used as an advantage for some.
The sport is extremely challenging physically with preparation for the 3 events being very difficult to manage but also becoming more intricate with the different courses and environmental conditions as presented to the athletes. This makes the technical and mental aspects very difficult for the elite competitors.
With the potential introduction of a triathlon relay event the athletes will have to increase there ability to sprint which adds another dimension the triathlon racing.
Competitions and Olympic history
Triathlon has been an Olympic sport since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Australia has won at least one medal at each of the games since triathlon's inception. The results in Olympic Games have been dominated by Australian women culminating in winning both the Gold and Bronze medals in Beijing through Emma Snowsill and Emma Moffat.
The sport has changed it's International format for the 2009 season with the International Triathlon Union running the ITU World Championship Series with 8 key races in major cities all over culminating with the final on the Gold Coast between the 9th and 13th September 2009. The winner of the series and the ultimate World Champion will be declared by there 4 best results in addition to the final.
The 2010 season will have 7 key races in major cities all over the world culminating with the final in Budapest from 8th-12th September 2010.
AIS Triathlon program success
Under the guidance of the program's inaugural head coach (2001-05), former world champion triathlete Jackie Fairweather (nee Gallagher) the program achieved remarkable success.
AIS scholarship holders competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with Emma Moffatt winning a bronze medal in the women's event and Emma Snowsill winning the Women's Gold medal in a remarkable achievement from both women.
The program was awarded the 2005 AIS sport program of the year.
Emma Moffatt was a joint winner of the 2009 Athlete of the Year Award following a very successful year.
Craig Walton was awarded the 2009 AIS Coach of the year having coached Emma Moffatt and Emma Snowsill.
