Jake aiming for Games fame
TASMANIAN Jake Birtwhistle was named in Australia’s new-look team for the Commonwealth Games yesterday and made his intentions clear — he’s going for gold.
The Tasmanian ace was an automatic selection in the team along with Ashleigh Gentle (Queensland) and Charlotte McShane (NSW).
Joining them in the sixstrong team were discretionary selections, Queensland trio Luke Willian, Matt Hauser and Gillian Backhouse.
Birtwhistle, 22, has taken the triathlon world by storm with an outstanding season.
He is unfazed by a men’s field that is likely see the Rio podium back in action — the brothers Brownlee, Alistair and Jonny, and bronze medallist from South Africa Henri Schoeman.
Birtwhistle is up for the challenge.
“I’m really looking forward to the Games — in fact I can’t wait,” Birtwhistle said.
“My goal is to win the gold medal — I would be silly to be striving for anything less and I honestly see it as a realistic goal.
“I am in that kind of position now where I believe I can win and I wouldn’t make claims that are unattainable.
“After a few years on the circuit you get the feel of who is the best and how you compare and on my day I know I am one of those guys now.”
It has been a breakthrough year for triathlon in Australia — the foursome of Birtwhistle, Hauser, Gentle and McShane produced a barnstorming victory to win the gold medal in the World Mixed Teams Relay in Hamburg.
The women and then the men will race for the first medals of the Games on April 5 before the Mixed Teams Relay and Paratriathlon on April 7.