Wilson to trial under top coach

DECLAN Wilson has overlooked Triathlon Australia’s Gold Coast base in favour of linking up with coach Jamie Turner in Wollongong.

Wilson has been based in Brisbane for the past 1½ years with Chris Lang who will step away from coaching at the end of this month.

The Canberra product will spend three weeks trialling with Turner’s team in January with the likes of Gold Coaster Ashleigh Gentle before deciding if he will make the move full-time.

The renowned Turner has coached Rio Olympic gold medallist Gwen Jorgensen and Australian men’s Olympians Aaron Royle and Ryan Bailie.

The mentor reached out to Triathlon Australia, voicing his interest in coaching Wilson.

“It is definitely really exciting to be in a place where I’m not the oldest or youngest,” Wilson, 24, said.

“Hopefully things work out on my trial and I can learn a few things from these guys.

“From the sounds of it Jamie has wanted to coach me for a little while and I guess now it’s an opportunity where everything has aligned.”

Wilson said he didn’t consider joining Australian coach Dan Atkins on the Gold Coast with the program largely catering for under-23 and paratriathletes.

– TOM BOSWELL