TRIATHLON: Tasmania’s Jake Birtwhistle has become only the third Australian male in history, overcoming a grade one hamstring tear, to win the coveted ITU Under 23 world triathlon championship in Chicago.
Birtwhistle joins the first ever under 23 world champion– 2008 Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt, who won in 2002 in Cancun, Mexico and Olympian-elect Aaron Royle who won the title in Auckland in 2012.
Five Australian women, Nikki Egyed (2003), Annabel Luxford (2004), Erin Densham (2006), Emma Jackson (2010) andCharlotte McShane (2013) have all won the Under 23 world crown too.
And Birtwhistle has done it with the same coach as Royle - Wollongong Wizards master coach Jamie Turner.
The Triathlon Australia National Talent Academy star also joins an elite group of triathlon royalty – champions who have taken the title on their way to the top of the sport.
Four-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Javier Gomez winning in 2003 in Queenstown; 2012 Olympic champion and 2009 and 2011 world champion Alistair Brownlee (2008) and his brother, 2011 world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee in Budapest in 2010.
Birtwhistle produced a courageous performance to overcome a grade one hamstring tear, suffered in training a week ago and a series of cramps, to etch his name into the ITU history books.
But under the care of Australia's medical team, physio Dean Sullivan and team doctor Mark Young and under the watchful eye of National Performance Director Bernard Savage and coach Turner the 20-year-old from Launceston sprinted away over the final kilometre to win in a time of 1:40.51 from Spanish pairing David Castro Fajardo(1:41.05) and Nan Oliveras (1:41.15).
Australia's Declan Wilson, who led the chase group on the bike and up to the lead group finished 22nd and Matt Baker was 25th.
A carefully managed plan devised by Triathlon Australia's medical team the multi-talented 20-year-old from Launceston sprinted away over the final kilometre.
Birtwhistle was quick to praise the efforts of team physio Sullivan, who put a detailed daily plan together for the young star.
“Dean said at the time I would be right to race but I think he was a bit optimistic,” said Birtwhistle.
“Basically when it happened all I could do was just rest.
“He admitted it to me last night he actually wasn’t too positive about it.
“I did everything I could and with the help of Triathlon Australia and the team we were able to get on top of it and manage it and I’m glad I was able to come out here and get a good result and I have to thank them as well.
“There wasn’t any stone left unturned…we were doing absolutely everything in our control for me to get on top of it and get to the start line.”
Sullivan managed the plan, which Birtwhistle stuck to religiously, right down to the final sprint.
“He ran at 90 percent yesterday and we were waiting to go 100 percent over the final 200 metres – it is so pleasing when a plan works and so happy for Jake – if anyone deserves this win he does,” said Sullivan.
It capped an eye-catching first year on the World Triathlon Series for the boy who had to choose between a career on the running track and a career in triathlon.
A magical Chicago sunrise on the Lake Michigan horizon heralded a new dawn and the new champion but only after Korean Seunghun Seo opened up a 13 second lead after the swim, which saw Birtwhistle already well placed.
The bike course started out with a group of 30 men led by Canadian Alexis Lepage and Great Britain’s Gordon Benson but with the chase down by just over 30 seconds.
But halfway through the bike course, the chase made a huge push and was able to make up over 10 seconds on the leaders. That push would continue for the remaining two laps until the bell sounded signaling the final bike lap, the chase merged to the front and caused a peloton to form that tallied 41 athletes.
With a lead pack large in size, the second transition zone was busy and crowded. But that didn’t stop Birtwhistle, Benson, Lepage and Kevin McDowell (USA) from blasting through and taking an early lead to start off the run leg.
During the first 2.5 kilometres, Lepage dropped off and instead was replaced by Spaniards Castro and Oliveras. The five men grouped together and ran as leaders until the nine kilometre mark.
Not until the last kilometre did the podium seem to work itself out.
Birtwhistle kicked in a last burst of energy to sprint ahead and run into the finish line solo and claim his World Championship crown.
“I didn’t want anything today but gold!” said Birtwhistle.
“I would not have been happy with anything else; I knew I could do it and I had to do everything in my control to make that happen and that’s what I did.
“I’m very happy...it’s a great way to finish off the season after what has been a pretty up and down year.
“There has been a lot of positives but there were some low points, a couple of WTS races and the Rio test Event.
“It’s really good to get another race under the belt before the end of the season and definitely a positive moving into next season I guess...to (continue) to challenge for a spot in the (Rio Olympic) Games.”
Triathlon Australia
