Australia will send a stellar team of seven rising stars to Torremolinos, Spain for the World Triathlon Under 23 Championships and World Triathlon Junior Championships this October.
Leading the charge in the Under 23 category is Richelle Hill, who has enjoyed a standout season since making her elite debut in February.
Hill secured an automatic nomination for the World Championships in April after a silver-medal performance at the Oceania Triathlon Standard Distance Championships, followed by a top 15 finish at the World Triathlon Cup in Wollongong.
Proud of her progress, she reflected on the milestones she’s reached in her first full year of elite competition, admitting she would have been ‘shocked’ if told she would be representing Australia at the World Championships at the start of the season.
“At the start of this year all I knew is that I wanted to give triathlon a go and see what I was capable of,” Hill said.
“This filled the year with a lot of unknowns, questions such as ‘how much does an elite have to train?’ and ‘how can I guarantee a podium performance.’ Truth is I am still figuring that out but I’m proud what I’ve accomplished.
“With all these unknowns I feel at the start of this year I wouldn’t understand how big all these race experiences have been, in saying this I would have been shocked by the opportunity to travel over to Europe (for the World Championships) for the sport.”
The 22-year-old is coached by her mother, 2004 Athens Olympian Rina Bradshaw-Hill, whose expertise and experience has played a key role in her development.
“She has always been my idol, so to follow in her footsteps would be a privilege,” Hill said.
“Resilience and consistency are the two key values she’s taught me.”
In the junior category, six athletes are set to don the green and gold, including dual 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist Aspen Anderson and Jack Woodberry.
The pair have dominated the national and continental triathlon scene over the past 12 months, claiming titles as Oceania Triathlon Junior Sprint Champions, Australian Junior Sprint Champions, and Australian Junior Super Sprint Champions.
Isla Watson, Grace Henry, Ty Davis, and Bowen Bamford are also included in the team.
AusTriathlon Chief Executive Officer, Tim Harradine, said he’s looking forward to seeing the team make their mark against the world’s best.
“We are proud to see our rising stars take their place on the world stage,” Harradine said.
“Their selection reflects the tremendous amount of work they’ve put into their training and competition. I know they’ll take great pride in wearing the Australian colours and representing their country.”
The World Triathlon Under 23 Championships and World Triathlon Junior Championships will be held as part of the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Torremolinos, Spain, from October 17-20. The event marks the first time since the 2019 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Lausanne that all five categories—Elite, Para, Under 23, Junior, and Age Group—will crown world champions at the same event.
“The opportunity for our emerging talent to compete side by side with our Elite, Para, and Age Group athletes is incredibly special,” Harradine said.
“It represents all levels of our sport coming together as one Team Australia. I can’t wait to see our athletes unite and shine on the international stage.”
Australian Under 23 and Junior Team
Under 23:
Richelle Hill (QLD)
Junior:
Aspen Anderson (QLD)
Isla Watson (QLD)
Grace Henry(NSW)
Jack Woodberry (TAS)
Ty Davis (VIC)
Bowen Bamford (QLD)
