TRIATHLON: The Australian women’s triathlon team take confidence into Saturday’s race and will be looking to emulate the feats of four years ago when they take to the Hyde Park course for the London 2012 Olympic Games triathlon.

Erin Densham, Emma Moffatt and Emma Jackson will spearhead Australia’s hopes in the race, which will take place in and around London’s iconic Hyde Park.

Four years ago Australia claimed an historic gold/bronze double with Emma Snowsill crowned Olympic Champion and Moffatt winning a bronze medal as Australia took ownership of the triathlon at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Moffatt and Densham, who finished 22nd in Beijing, back up from that race along with Olympic debutant Jackson as the trio look to take advantage of a good preparation that included a camp at  Aixle Bains in France under head coach Shaun Stephens and a strong showing at the ITU World Championship round in Hamburg.

“We’ve been down in France preparing, which has been great because I’ve been going there every year for six or seven years so it has all been very familiar,” Moffatt said. “Having the experience of Beijing is an advantage. I learned a lot out of the whole Olympic experience and hopefully I can use it on Saturday.”

“Everything has been great with the camp and our preparation,” Densham added. “We competed in a sprint race last week in Hamburg and I was fortunate enough to win so that helps going into the Olympics.”

While Densham and Moffatt, both 27, are competing at their second Olympic Games, 20-year-old Jackson will be making her Olympic debut, excited to be in London and competing on a course she enjoys.

“I’m really excited to be in London for my first Olympic Games and looking forward to the race,” Jackson said. “It’s starting to hit home now I’m here (in London).

“I like the course. We had the opportunity to race here last year in the World Championship Series and I managed to finish fourth so I’m comfortable on the course.”

Densham also paid tribute to her fellow female Australian triathletes, who missed selection, including defending champion Snowsill.

“We have great depth in women’s triathlon so we do have some great competitors at home,” Densham said. “I know they would be disappointed but we’re going to give it everything we’ve got for them as well as ourselves and all of Australia.

While triathlon is an individual sport, Great Britain has caused a stir in London by purposefully picking two athletes to help their number one chance Helen Jenkins claim gold on home soil but the tactic was shrugged off by Densham.

“That’s within the rules and their prerogative,” she said. “They’ve obviously put all their eggs in one basket with Helen Jenkins but I’m not worried about it.”

The women’s triathlon starts at 9am on Day 8 (Saturday) with the men’s race set down for day 11.

David Mason in London
olympics.com.au