Royle back on track after injury
IT hasn’t been smooth sailing for Aaron Royle since his 2016 Rio Olympic success but the Australian triathlete says he is starting to see glimpses of his best again.
Royle has battled over the past two years to return to the form that had him placed as Australia’s top male triathlete.
The 28-year-old tore plantar fasciitis, on the bottom of the foot, in early 2017 and didn’t compete until June that year.
Around the same time Royle shifted to the UK to live and train alongside partner and female World Triathlon Series competitor Non Stanford where he has had to adjust to a bigger volume of training.
Royle conceded he had spent the rest of that year playing catch up while in 2018 he has tried to force his form back, a tactic that has worked in some races and not others.
“It’s been a mixed year,” Royle said ahead of tomorrow’s elite men’s WTS grand final at the Southport broadwater.
“I was definitely chasing my tail all of last year which doesn’t help this year.
“I tried to force things this year and when you do that it never works out in your favour.”
Royle was a commentator at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April but despite enjoying his time behind the microphone, he said he was happier being involved in the race this time.
The experienced triathlete said 2018 may have been the year he needed to have as he resets and prepares for a big two years leading into the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“After this season I’ll take a good break and have a really good build up to next year,” Royle said.