Hauser sets sights on Tokyo selection
TRIATHLETE Matt Hauser says he is well placed to make a case for Olympic selection as he ramps up preparations for the Tokyo Games.
Hauser and the rest of the team from Triathlon Australia’s Gold Coast-based highperformance centre are in Lennox Head completing a training camp as they build the foundation for the 2020 season.
The 22-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medal winner only joined the crew, who have been there for the past week, on Tuesday after overcoming illness.
Australia will use discretionary selection to nominate the three men and three women who will represent the country in Tokyo in August.
Hauser finished a disappointing 30th at the qualification event last year, with Aussies Jake Birtwhistle (11th), Ryan Fisher (18th) and
Luke Willian (21st) crossing in front of him. But after struggling through a long period of injury after winning gold in the mixed relay at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Hauser is confident he will be ready to beat the best should he go to Tokyo.
“I gained a lot of confidence and traction from last year’s results in world cups and while a test event didn’t go to plan I think I showed promising form coming off the back of some consistent training blocks,” Hauser said.
“I’m trying to emulate that going into this year’s preparations as well.
“We don’t find out about our selection with Tokyo until five or six weeks before the Games so you have to talk and act and prepare like you are going and then whatever happens, happens after that,” he said.
“I’m feeling really confident. I’ve got a good team around me and the body is feeling good.”
Hauser and his teammates were due to conduct their pre-season camp at Perisher, NSW, in order to complete altitude training but the recent bushfires scuppered that plan.
“It’s designed to get us away from our normal stimulus and have some different rides and run trails,” Hauser said.
“We will also do some altitude training in the tents that have been brought down.”
I’VE GOT A GOOD TEAM AROUND ME … THE BODY IS FEELING GOOD