Wylde time ends in maiden triumph
GOLD Coast triathlete Kye Wylde has recorded the first win of his career in Round 1 of the Triathlon Australia under-23 series at Runaway Bay.
Wylde finished ahead of fellow Queenslanders Nic Free and David Pinto after four days of racing in the Super Sprint Race Weekend at the Super Sports Centre yesterday as he turns his focus towards qualifying for next year’s under-23 world championships.
“I came in to this sprint weekend under a big training block and wasn’t expecting too much,” Wylde said.
“Me and my coach wanted to do it for fun to see where everything is at. (Triathlon Australia under-23 coach) Dan (Atkins) ... said I’d be stronger towards the end and it turned out I was.”
The 21-year-old burst on to the scene as a youngster and made the junior Australian team for the 2016 ITU World Triathlon grand final in Cozumel, Mexico.
It was enough for Triathlon Australia to fund his coaching and medical costs.
But a 40th place at the world titles meant he lost his funding and was forced to work full-time.
A top-five finish in the under-23 and elite men’s races at the 2017 Devonport OTU Triathlon Oceania Championships in March led to Triathlon Australia taking another punt on Wylde on the advice of Atkins.
“He has shown so much perseverance, commitment and toughness to get up there,” Atkins said.
“He executed beautifully and I’m really proud of him.”
Wylde – who still works full-time for cycling clothing brand Black Sheep Cycling – will need to overcome a quality pool of talent to make next year’s under-23 world titles, including Commonwealth Games-bound duo Matt Hauser and Luke Willian.