Paris ‘sting’ driving Australian triathlete to stardom
Roger Vaughan |
Matt Hauser has taken what the Paris Olympics showed him and run with it – all the way to a triathlon world title and the top of the men’s rankings.
As the 27-year-old continues to fulfil his potential, he’s giving Australian triathlon what it’s lacked for several years – a genuine Olympic star.
Hauser has made an outstanding start to the LA Games cycle, winning two of the first four rounds in this year’s world championship series and finishing no lower than second.
The two-time Olympian also anchored Australia at the mixed relay world titles last month, overcoming a 20-second deficit as Hauser and Paris teammates Sophie Linn and Luke Willian combined with Emma Jeffcoat to win the event for the first time since 2017.
The individual and mixed relay events will be run again at the LA Games.
No Australian has won the men’s triathlon world title since Pete Robertson in 2005, with the series format introduced in 2009. Olympic medallist Emma Moffatt won the women’s world championship series in 2009 and ’10.
The October 19 championship series final will be held in Wollongong, giving Hauser even more motivation for a big season.
Hauser finished seventh at Paris, the best Australian result in the Olympic men’s race for two decades. But for a stumble in the bike-run transition, he may well have finished closer to the podium.
“The thing I learned about Paris the most is that I can really make a difference in the sport. I can be a part of the next move,” Hauser told AAP.
“The building block towards LA is making sure that I’m one of the key figures in men’s triathlon.”
Hauser said Paris was solid, but not nearly what he wanted.
“It definitely stung a little bit. I knew I was capable – on a perfect day, I definitely could have medalled,” he said.
“I will take that, and I will definitely take that forward to the next few years leading into LA.
“This year is just a matter of bouncing straight back into it and not having little hiccups and setbacks, like the little fall in transition.”
Hauser said having this year’s final in Australia was another big motivation to make the best possible start to the LA Olympic cycle.
“It’s been the driving force for my results over the last six months. Having that carrot dangling in front of me has allowed me to not let Paris get me down too much, to get straight back on the horse,” he said.
“It’s going to be tough … I’m ultimately going to have to win Wollongong to secure the world title.
“Although I’ve had an amazing season so far, I really just want to keep pushing forward.”
Winning the mixed relay world title has been a major morale boost for the national program, which now features Moffatt as a key official. She finished third at the Beijing Olympics behind compatriot Emma Snowsill, who won the gold medal and also is lending her expertise to the national squad.
“It was a massive deal … it’s nice to be back,” Hauser said of the mixed relay win.
“We’re slowly starting to find our way back to our groove, back to the top. It’s an exciting prospect, given Brisbane is only seven years away – and that’s still well and truly within my sights.”
Hauser is back on the Gold Coast for a training block before returning to Europe for two more world championship series rounds, and then Wollongong.
He and partner Georgia Humphries have a 10-month old Vizsla pup Maple – “a perfect combination of crazy and cuddly” – and Hauser’s well-curated collection of vinyl records.
“I’m loving Black Sabbath at the moment – RIP Ozzy Osbourne,” Hauser said.
AAP
