Jaz Hedgeland

Fast Facts

Sport: Triathlon
Olympic History: Tokyo 2020
Year Born: 1995
State Born: WA

About Jaz

Jaz Hedgeland played all sports growing up, gymnastics, dancing, cross country, hockey, you name it. Undoubtedly she loved all sports and when her parents encouraged her to pick one sport to focus on she strategically chose Triathlon, a sport that incorporates three sports into one.

However, her passion for the Triathlon came long before this. Hedgeland actually discovered the sport whilst watching the 2004 Olympic Games, and as a result, she became eager to try it out, joining what is now called Fremantle Triathlon Club at 9-years-old.

Hedgelands first major triathlon competition was the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2012, where she placed first in the individual and teams race. Wearing the gold medal and representing in the green and gold, this cemented her drive to pursue an elite career in Triathlon.

Hedgeland competed in ITU Juniors from 16 until 19 years of age. During this time she would place fourth at the World Championships as a member of the Triathlon Australia Junior World's team, and begin training under coach Dan Atkins. 

In 2014 Hedgeland moved from Perth to the Gold Coast to chase success in triathlons. Her younger sister and training partner Kira, moved to the Gold Coast a couple of years later once she had graduated high school, from here the two lived together, trained and studied.

As Hedgeland started to compete in domestic and international races in Under 23s ranks, her titles did not lessen. At the start of 2015, she competed in Tasmania and New Zealand, becoming became the Under 23 Oceania Sprint distance Champion, and the Under 23 and Elite Australian Olympic distance Champion.

Unfortunately, her prospects of representing the Triathlon Australia Under 23 Worlds team later in the year were cut short, as Hedgeland suffered an achilles injury that took her out of competing from May 2015 to January 2016.

Her treatments included two cortisone injections and surgery that involved debridement of the achilles tendon and removal of the plantaris tendon. The eight months out due to the injury proved to be the most trying time in Hedgelands career, but in the end it taught her invaluable lessons about resilience and not taking things for granted. 

It did not take long for Hedgeland to hit her stride once again. In 2016 she placed 3rd in the elite women's category and 2nd in the U23s women's ranks at Gisborne OTU Triathlon Oceania Championships. This same year she would also win gold at the Penrith OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Championships, the Gamagori NTT ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup, and the Singapore ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup.

Jaz also added gold at the 2018 Dongdaihe ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup and silver at the 2019 Moreton Bay OTU Triathlon Oceania Champions to her resume. She would continue her impressive form in 2021, winning the Oceania Triathlon Championships, Cup Port Douglas, as well as the Gold Coast Oceania Triathlon Cup.

She would then make her Olympic debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 games. Where after completing the swimming leg, was lapped during the final stretch of the cycling leg. This ultimately eliminating Hedgeland from medal contention at the games.