Gentle jitters in past

ASHLEIGH Gentle never knew it was possible to turn up to race on the biggest stage without feeling physically sick before the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The Gold Coast triathlete has opened up for the first time about the crippling nerves that tortured her at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she placed 26th, and the work with a sports psychologist who has since instilled a mental strength she doubted she would ever have.

“Before Commonwealth Games I honestly didn’t know you could turn up and stand on a start line at a major games and feel sick to your stomach because that was my Rio experience,” Gentle said as she prepares to race at the grand final of the ITU World Triathlon Championships in her home town tomorrow.

“There was no part of my Olympic experience at Rio that was very comfortable. I thought it was completely normal to feel horrible and sick and a nervous wreck.

“That was a massive learning curve for me.”

Gentle has only ever spoken to coach Jamie Turner about how she felt, after linking with the renowned mentor at the start of 2017.

Turner put her in touch with a psychologist who has helped her train her mind to become as strong as her swim, bike and run.

Gentle’s swim leg is still her weakest leg and she revealed all her work with the psychologist was focused on the moments before the race and her time in the water.

The 27-year-old was one of the favourites for gold in the individual race at the Commonwealth Games.

She still considers her fifth place finish a failure but she knows she stood on the start line with a belief that delivered the best performance she could in April.

“It’s something you don’t see but for me it’s quite empowering,” Gentle said.

“It was a fifth place but what I achieved in just standing on that start line was the polar opposite of what I felt in Rio.

I THOUGHT IT WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL TO FEEL HORRIBLE AND SICK AND A NERVOUS WRECK ASHLEIGH GENTLE

“I went into the race in the best frame of mind that I could have been.”

Gentle finished 2017 ranked second in the WTS but holds ninth going into the grand final in 2018 after a difficult series that included a crash, illness, a failure to finish and some success with a fourth in Yokohama and second in Edmonton.

“I have had a really mixed bag of races this year,” Gentle said.

“It’s hard to describe and I’m not sure how I should feel. It’s been tough but I can learn from the experiences and put it in my arsenal on the road to the (2020) Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m still really excited to race this weekend. I’m not contending for a world series podium like I was this time last year but racing at home is really special.”