McShane sidelines the pain

Betting the Hauser on it

IN the darkest moment of Charlotte McShane’s career a belief was born that has propelled her to this year’s Commonwealth Games.

The Wollongong-based triathlete has opened up about missing out on selection for the 2016 Rio Olympics and how the Commonwealth Games got her through.

“Missing out on Rio hurt pretty bad,” McShane said.

“I really struggled with that and I was so fortunate to have such a supportive group around me.

“The one thing that got me through that was knowing there was a home Commonwealth Games just around the corner.

“That’s something most athletes never have the opportunity to do in their career.”

McShane was in a race for with Emma Moffatt and Ashleigh Gentle for one of two discretionary spots up for grabs ahead of Rio but selectors went with her compatriots.

The now 27-year-old said the setback helped her come to the realisation that she was good enough to reach the sport’s pinnacle events. OLYMPIAN Ryan Bailie says emerging triathlete Matt Hauser has what it takes to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games today if he can avoid distraction and contain his emotions.

Hauser, 19, heads into the Games as the youngest member of Australia’s six-person triathlon team.

The Gold Coast-based Hervey Bay product is a rising star of the sport and the current junior world champion but Hauser will have the chance to put his name up against some of the greatest in his home city.

It’s a position Bailie knows well. Bailie was 22 when he made his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow where he finished fifth in the individual before winning bronze for Australia in the mixed relay.