SISTERLY SUPPORT
TRIATHLON FAMILY ACT
SISTERS Jaz and Kira Hedgeland will toe the line together in the upcoming under-23 ITU World Triathlon Championship after enduring injury-riddled seasons to get there.
The Gold Coast-based duo have shared their lives and careers together, celebrating all the highs and lows that come with competing at the highest level.
This year they shared a battle to even reach the world under-23 title race, to be held on September 14 on the Gold Coast.
Jaz, 23, has fought to overcome a ITB friction syndrome and hamstring tendinopathy issue that arose last year while Kira, 20, has bounced back from torn disc in her back at the start of the year and a broken collarbone suffered just a month ago.
It took eight months for Jaz to run pain-free again after three cortisone injections over six months.
“It was quite a long and tough hurdle to face this year,” Jaz said.
“My racing season didn’t start until two-and-a-half months ago. I feel I’ve progressed with fitness with each race so I’m very glad the season will be finishing a lot better than it started.”
Kira said it she had experienced some of the best and worst moments of her career
in 2018. She featured in Triathlon Australia’s mixed relay invitational and made her World Cup debut in Chengdu (16th) before breaking her collarbone after crashing in the Tiszaujvaros World Cup event.
Both have done well just to be fit enough to race in the world titles and the sisters, who have been part of five Australia world championship teams between them, said they would relish the chance to represent the country together.
“At the beginning of this year I didn’t even know if I would be over my injuries and back to fitness in time to be selected for worlds,” Jaz said. “I’m so glad to be lining up at worlds and look forward to seeing the performance I can put together.”
Kira echoed her sister’s sentiment.
“I feel so grateful for the opportunity, being my first year under-23 and after breaking my collarbone only a month ago,” she said.
“I’m so excited. Being a home race, it’s going to make the world of difference having so many people watching that see all the works and little things that go into what happens on race day.”