Last Monday the following members of the Australian Para-Triathlon Team for Tokyo 2021 were announced at an induction ceremony:
Nick Beveridge
David Bryant
Jonathan Goerlach
Katie Kelly
Dave Mainwaring (Goerlach’s guide)
Lauren Parker
Briana Silk (Kelly’s guide)
Emily Tapp
Notable is the inclusion of reigning gold medallist Katie Kelly and world No.1 Lauren Parker. Kelly became Australia’s first Paralympic triathlon champion when she and guide Michellie Jones won the PT5 classification at Rio 2016, the first Games in which Para-triathlon was included.
Kelly, who will race with new guide Briarna Silk in Tokyo, will be joined by Parker, the 2019 World Champion in the PTWC classification, Rio 2016 representative Nic Beveridge (current world No.8 in the PTWC classification), Emily Tapp (world No.3 PTWC), Jonathan Goerlach with guide Dave Mainwaring (world No.4 PTVI) and David Bryant (world No.12 PTS5).
“It’s an outstanding team,” Kelly said. “There are some outstanding athletes who’ve been in the triathlon game for a long time and are really ready to make their mark in Tokyo.
“I think for all of us there’s just a great sense of gratitude at the moment. We’re so grateful the Games are going ahead, so grateful for the country we live in and being able to keep training over the last 12 months.
“Our hearts and thoughts have been with all our triathlon competitors overseas, especially in Spain and Italy where they’ve had some really tough times. We also have admiration for the courage of the Japanese in staging the Games.
“Being over in Yokohama to compete recently, I had a strong sense that they want to hold these Games and they’re doing everything possible to make sure it’s safe for the athletes and their own people. All that combined gives our Para-triathlon Team a real sense of excitement and gratitude that it’s happening. It’s going to be a really joyous celebration.”
Join up to become an official member of the cheer squad of the Australian Paralympic Team and Paralympic Movement here: https://www.paralympic.org.au/aussquad/
