Triathlon New South Wales and Triathlon ACT are excited to welcome back Robyn Low-Hart to the organisation in the newly created TNSW / TACT Coach Education and Pathway Lead role.

Robyn will join both organisations in a unique ‘combination’ role covering both NSW and ACT jurisdictions after both organisations announced an exciting new partnership which was launched to enhance development for future Olympic hopefuls.

Robyn replaces Mick Delamotte who recently moved to a role with Triathlon Australia as the National Manager for Coach Education. She will commence the role on Monday 6^th September.

Mick leaves behind a strong legacy for the Development Pathway with the recent addition of the Western Region Academy of Sport to the partnerships already formed with our 6 other Regional Academy of Sport triathlon programs, along with new initiatives to encourage draft legal racing experience including the highly successful ‘Billigence Pathway Championships Series’.

Other new initiatives launched include the ‘Billigence Talent ID Academy’ a 2 day camp designed to bridge the gap between Affiliated club programs and participation in the pathway which has a proven track record of creating new athletes transferring into the pathway.

Robyn will also take with the lead over the new initiative delivered thanks to funding via the NSW Office of Sport ‘Her Sport Her Way’ funding entitled ‘Inspire the next generation of female coaches’. This is a new and exciting concept that will build on the work being done already in reaching the lofty goal of gender equity in both participation and leaders in the sport.  

Robyn brings with her a wealth of triathlon experience and passion, having significant experience in nearly all aspects of the sport. This includes running a local junior program having done so previously with the Hills Triathlon Club and currently with the Central Coast Triathlon Club. She is the current head coach of the Central Coast Academy of Sport Program and has intimate knowledge of the Development Pathway having deputized as ‘head coach’ at TNSW camps previously. Robyn has also taken many leadership roles at Foundation Coaching Courses and is the ideal candidate for this role with bold plans to hit the ground running with delivery of Foundation Coaching Courses in both NSW and the ACT, pending COVID-19 restrictions easing.  

We recently announced the Emerging Talent Squad, U23 Squad and ROSTA, who have been selected and will be supported by the Development Pathway.  Numbers in the program remain very strong, and the depth and quality of triathletes in the program makes it the envy of other states and territories.

Robyn will also be the inaugural head coach for the newly formed ‘Triathlon ACT Talent Academy’ (TACTTA), an aligned program to the ROSTA and RASi, and a critical part of the pathway in engaging talented Canberra based athletes who young and relatively new to the sport of triathlon.

Across NSW and now including the ACT, the philosophy of the Pathway will remain the same, to create environments where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological, and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through to the National Athlete Pathway. An athlete who is in a program aligned with the pathway should not expect their program to replace the requirement to have a home coached program and a Daily Training Environment (DTE). However, their participation in the pathway should enhance their DTE and support TA accredited home coaches. 

We sat down with Robyn, to find out a little bit more about her and what makes her tick!

Tell us more about your main goals in the role?
I want to continue on with the success of the pathway programs that have already been put in place with both athlete and coach development and expand where possible. The inclusion of the TACTTA program this year will provide this opportunity to athletes in Canberra and expand from what NSW already has implemented, which is very exciting. The Olympics are still fresh in everyone’s minds - to assist athletes in the pathway to reach the pinnacle of sporting success is a goal I would like to be a part of in the sport of Triathlon. I know that the pathway is a vehicle for this progression. Having recently completed AIS Women Leaders in Sport Program, I am also excited to provide coaching development and leadership opportunities to female coaches, to assist in furthering the opportunities presented to female coaches in triathlon. 

You bring so much experience with you; how did you get in the sport of triathlon?
Many years ago I was in Wollongong where a St George Triathlon Series Race was being held. I was in awe of the athletes, and in particular the level of the Australian athletes. I found a race, started training for triathlon and the rest is history. Having also raced at the elite level for Cross Country Mountain Biking in the early days, the discovery of XTERRA and Cross Triathlon lined up my passions. I still enjoy competing in Triathlon and Cross Triathlon and enjoy the challenge of World Championships in multiple disciplines. To qualify in a Mixed Team Relay in the World Championships line up of events is a goal that I would like to fulfil in the future.

How excited are you to join the TNSW and TACT teams?
I am very excited to join TNSW and TACT. I am passionate about the sport and enjoy watching the progressions of the athletes and relationships with coaches in the program. Canberra has some fantastic racing opportunities, coaches and facilities - to be a part of the new TACTTA program will provide more diversity in the pathway and afford the Canberra Athletes the best opportunity at further success in the sport of triathlon. I am excited to be involved with this new addition and look forward to the commencement.

Words of wisdom, what’s a quote/motto you live by?
“Luck doesn’t enter it. You have either done the work or you haven’t. In some sports, players can be carried by teams and other players. In an individual sport such as triathlon you are exposed and can not be carried by others. It is all up to you - you will get out of it what you put in!