The next generation of Tasmanian triathletes were spurred on with some encouragement from a Commonwealth Games gold medallist at the weekend.
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Attending the first training camp of the season at the Longford cycling track, Triathlon Tasmania's Fairbrother and junior development squad members shared their lunch break with Launceston's 2020 Olympic hopeful Jake Birtwhistle.
In an insightful Q and A session, Birtwhistle answered everything from how he copes with the cold on the swim leg (a combination of natural Tasmanian toughness and double swimming caps) to what happens when he gets unmotivated (keep training anyway).
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Junior development coach Gabe Dennison said Birtwhistle's presence and accessibility was a huge encouragement for the sport's up-and-coming talents.
"It's really good to have him come out and give back," Dennison said.
"A lot of those kids don't get any real exposure to high-end [triathletes], so it's really nice to have him come down, give his time and share what life's like on the big stage."
The Fairbrother squad is aimed at nurturing talented athletes who are aiming to compete at ITU junior and youth events interstate.
It is fed by the junior development squad, which caters for entry-level competitors.
"We've got a good mix," Dennison said.
"We've got two kids here looking to race in the national series in Ethan [Stretton] and Jonte [Armistead] and a few others who are up-and-coming and a couple of really young new kids.
"They're keen and they're showing good potential."
Triathlon Tasmania will hold three more camps this season as it gears towards hosting the school sports championships in Devonport in 2021.
"As part of this program we've got a real strong goal to have strong representation in that event," Dennison said.
"Going forward we have a few kids who are going to turn the right age at the right time in this squad for that, so that's a big factor at those events."
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