Fisher pins his hopes on long-course career
GOLD Coast triathlete Ryan Fisher concedes the 2020 Tokyo Olympics isn’t on his radar as he looks to continue building on a promising start to his long-course career.
The Mermaid Waters resident thrived in his opening year at Ironman 70.3 level in 2017, a racing format that consists of 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run.
Fisher, who finished 24th at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said long course would remain his priority in 2018 and while he hasn’t completely ruled out a return leading up to the Tokyo Games, the 26-year-old admitted it didn’t appeal.
The 70.3 event is more to his liking. Last year he finished on the podium in all five 70.3 events in which he competed.
Fisher won Ironman 70.3 Japan and the Noumea International, starred at Beijing (second) and finished third at Busselton and Cebu.
He will aim to qualify for the famous Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, a non-drafting Olympic distance event (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) to held in San Francisco on June 3, by competing in a qualifier at Huntington Beach in April.
Fisher will then remain in the US where he will train in Phoenix, Arizona, alongside American friend Ben Kanute.
Kanute won last year’s Escape From Alcatraz and Island House Triathlon and finished second behind Javier Gomez in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
“He has found what works for him so the two of us doing training together there are not many negatives,” Fisher said.
Fisher is in talks with Triathlon Australia to compete in some mixed team relays and said he would definitely feature at this year’s 70.3 World Championships.