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NTID

LAST_UPDATED2 Written by Aaron Lean Thursday, 16 April 2009 13:38

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Triathlon Australia National Talent Identification & Development Program

Triathlon Australia and the Australian Sports Commission have launched a National Talent Identification and Development (NTID) program called "Swim, Run and Ride to the Hyde". The aim of the program is to identify and develop potential Triathlon talent for the London 2012 Olympic Games (draft-legal event). The program consists of the TRIChamps who are new athletes into Triathlon and the Young Guns who are developing triathletes.

MSS Head Coach, Aaron Lean, currently leads a group of four TRIChamps in the Newcastle hotspot with athletes transferring from athletics & swimming. Aaron has been a NTID Regional Coach since the inception of the program.

Test yourself against the best! Log on now!Athletes currently in the program are:

  • Stephanie Auston
  • Matt Brady
  • Kate Boatswain
  • Lauren Parker

The aim of the TRIChamps is to provide new athletes (current TRIChamps have come from a running, swimming and/or surf-life saving background) with an enriching environment and improved training and competition structures that will fast track to high performance levels and programs. The daily training environment will be enhanced through coaching from Australia’s leading Triathlon coaches, specific training camps, skills sessions, competition opportunities and exposure to elite coaching expertise. Training camps will be held regionally and at the Australian Institute of Sport. Valuable contribution will be provided by the AIS in areas such as: athlete testing, education programs (particularly coach education), sports science and sports medicine.

The Young Guns program provides a pathway for identified TRIChamps and other developing Triathletes. The Young Guns are athletes who are already in the sport of Triathlon (either from TRIChamps or other development squads) but with access to international competition, can take the next step. The Young Guns tour takes athletes to Europe and Asia. The athletes are exposed to travelling internationally, foreign languages, competing against some of the best juniors and seniors in the world and living out of a suitcase. The opportunity shows them what it is like to be a high performance triathlete and also what it takes.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

  • High level of coaching and guidance from well credentialed Triathlon.
  • Coaches who have an elite, draft legal triathlon focus.
  • Interaction with other aspiring Olympians.
  • Potential to travel domestically on a regular basis as part of a dedicated triathlon program.
  • International travel & competition when on representative teams.
  • Develop swimming and running technique and bike-handling skills.
  • Sports science and Sports Medicine assistance at training camps such as Biomechanics, fitness testing, sport psychology and nutrition.

  • Use of a bicycle provided by the NTID program for training and racing.

COACHES

The coaches have been chosen by Triathlon Australia based on their qualifications and athlete development and performance record. The coaches have a proven ability to deliver athletes into state ITU Junior and U23 programs and/or SIS/SAS and AIS programs and have an ITU draft legal triathlon focus. They also have a sound understanding of athlete development and sports science to assist the identified athlete. The hotspot coaches are also aligned with a State Institute or State Academy of Sport Triathlon Program which facilitates athletes into the high performance Triathlon pathway.

HOTSPOTS

The TRIChamps program has been set-up in strategically determined "hotspots". The current hotspots are: Brisbane (QLD), Sunshine Coast (QLD), North Coast NSW (NSW), Newcastle (NSW) and Wollongong (NSW).

These hotspots provide the following benefits to identified athletes:

  • Accredited and experienced coaches with an elite, draft legal triathlon focus.
  • Excellent training environment and access to high-class facilities (swimming pools, running track and trails, good bike riding opportunities).
  • Links with training squads and current elite/U23 triathletes.
  • Links with the State Institute and Academy of Sport Triathlon Programs.