First to take the plunge into the warm Pacific Ocean will be the U23 Women, kicking off the elite action at 10am (local time) on Friday morning. Flying the flag for the Loughborough Triathlon Performance Centre (LTPC) are current students Olivia Mathias and Sophie Alden, the former looking to build on the experiences she gained at the Commonwealth Games in the same venue six months ago.

In the afternoon it is the turn of Barclay Izzard in the U23 Men’s race, fresh off the back of making his senior GB debut at the European Championships in Glasgow last month. Breaking into the top 10 on that occasion, Izzard will hope to mix it with the best in his own age group down under.

The next morning young Scot Iona Miller will toe the line in the Junior Women’s race, the first year University student making her GB debut, whilst in the Junior Men’s race James Chantler-Mayne and Matt Willis are in action, both starting their studies at Loughborough University in October.

Saturday afternoon is the turn of the Senior Women, alumna Sophie Coldwell and her LTPC training partner Jodie Stimpson flying the flag for Great Britain, alongside another alumna and Olympic medallist Vicky Holland. Great Britain are perhaps at their strongest in this race and will be looking for silverware.

Saturday also sees the Paratriathlon races taking place at Broadwater Parklands and no fewer than six LTPC members will be looking to deliver their best performance of the season on the biggest stage of all. On the men’s side Ryan Taylor goes in the PTS3 race, George Peasgood in the PTS5 and Dave Ellis in the PTVI. For the women Fran Brown is in action in the PTS2 event, Claire Cashmore in the PTS5 whilst incoming University student Hannah Moore will contest the PTS4 race.

Of the LTPC contingent, Director Alyson Wyeth commented:

“After a hard year of training it is fantastic to see so many athletes from the Loughborough Triathlon Performance Centre (LTPC), as well some of our new recruits, competing at the World Champs on the Gold Coast.  The fact that we have athletes in so many of the races is testament to the performance pathway that is developing here across both the Olympic and Paralympic programmes. It is exciting for the future of triathlon here at LTPC and hugely motivating for the whole team of athletes, coaches and support staff working here.”

For more information head to https://goldcoast.triathlon.org/events/event_schedule/