Triathlon Australia commits to ‘rigorous’ review of its performance at the Tokyo Olympics

August 6, 2021

Events / Finance / Sport /

Triathlon Australia has released a statement advising that it is “committed to a rigorous independent review of the sport and its performance at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

The review follows extensive criticism of Australia's Tokyo Olympics performance, with former world champion triathlete Emma Carney having written to Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck saying Triathlon Australia lacked leadership, direction and transparency.

The two-time world champion and nine-time Australian champion has emailed Minister Colbeck, detailing "the decline of a once-dominant nation" saying people in charge of the sport should be held accountable for "extremely poor" performances at an international level, including the Tokyo Olympics.

In the men's event, Australians finished 16th (Jake Birtwhistle), 24th (Matthew Hauser), and 26th (Aaron Royle) while only one Australian finished the women's event (Emma Jeffcoat - 26th), with two others Ashleigh Gentle and Jaz Hedgeland were lapped out of the race.

Commenting on the mixed relay, in which the Australian team finished ninth out of 17 nations, Carney wrote “the triathlon mixed relay made its debut in Tokyo and Australia received government funding for an expected silver medal.”

Carney’s communication advised “the Triathlon Australia high-performance program is lacking direction, leadership, transparency, and is failing our athletes in providing an environment where they can perform against the best in the world with resilience, determination and a focus on excellence.

"There is an urgency to dismantle a rigid hierarchy of coaching and performance centres where all decisions are controlled by a head coach towards a home coach environment where coaches of athletes have greater freedom to train their athletes as they see fit.”

Triathlon Australia’s commitment to a review says that it will take place following the completion of the Paralympics and the Olympic cycle and will be led by the Australian Institute of Sport.

Triathlon Australia President Michelle Cooper says a thorough review would be important regardless of Games outcomes and has been part of the board’s long-term planning and commitment to continuous improvement.

Cooper said Triathlon Australia was also committed to a culture of respect within a safe and fair sporting environment and urged any athlete or coach to raise any specific concerns with Sport Integrity Australia.

3rd August 2021 - COVID-19 hits commercial value of the Tokyo Olympics

1st August 2021 - Projection mapping light show makes Olympic debut for Tokyo Games’ 100 metre finals

30th July 2021 - Technogym equips 25 training centres for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

29th July 2021 - UNSW researcher assesses Tokyo Olympics’ sustainability credentials

26th July 2021 - International Paralympic Committee and World Health Organization sign global sport agreement

25th July 2021 - AIS Chief Executive congratulates Australia’s swimming performance at Tokyo Olympic Games

2nd July 2021 - Australian Institute of Sport introduces new resource to help enhance athlete wellbeing

9th April 2021 - Australian Institute of Sport program to enhance career path options for women athletes

18th May 2021 - Sport Australia and AIS acknowledge volunteers for delivering the ‘most important job in sport’

23rd March 2021 - Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges suspension of NRL player for four years

19th January 2021 - Federal Government names members of Sport Integrity Australia Advisory Council

29th October 2020 - Australia’s Paralympic triathlon program to receive AIS funding boost

2nd October 2020 - ITU transitions to World Triathlon brand

22nd February 2020 - Wanda Sports Group discusses potential sale of Ironman Triathlon Business

26th November 2019 - New indoor triathlon series delivers safe, fun and social first-time experience

13th September 2018 - Bermuda and Abu Dhabi to stage 2021 and 2022 ITU World Triathlon Grand Finals

14th April 2016 - ACTIVE Network marks five year partnership with Triathlon Australia

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.