Triathlon Australia commits to ‘rigorous’ review of its performance at the Tokyo Olympics

Triathlon Australia has released a statement advising that it is “committed to a rigorous independent review of the sport and its performance at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

The review follows extensive criticism of Australia's Tokyo Olympics performance, with former world champion triathlete Emma Carney having written to Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck saying Triathlon Australia lacked leadership, direction and transparency.

The two-time world champion and nine-time Australian champion has emailed Minister Colbeck, detailing "the decline of a once-dominant nation" saying people in charge of the sport should be held accountable for "extremely poor" performances at an international level, including the Tokyo Olympics.

In the men's event, Australians finished 16th (Jake Birtwhistle), 24th (Matthew Hauser), and 26th (Aaron Royle) while only one Australian finished the women's event (Emma Jeffcoat - 26th), with two others Ashleigh Gentle and Jaz Hedgeland were lapped out of the race.

Commenting on the mixed relay, in which the Australian team finished ninth out of 17 nations, Carney wrote “the triathlon mixed relay made its debut in Tokyo and Australia received government funding for an expected silver medal.”

Carney’s communication advised “the Triathlon Australia high-performance program is lacking direction, leadership, transparency, and is failing our athletes in providing an environment where they can perform against the best in the world with resilience, determination and a focus on excellence.

"There is an urgency to dismantle a rigid hierarchy of coaching and performance centres where all decisions are controlled by a head coach towards a home coach environment where coaches of athletes have greater freedom to train their athletes as they see fit.”

Triathlon Australia’s commitment to a review says that it will take place following the completion of the Paralympics and the Olympic cycle and will be led by the Australian Institute of Sport.

Triathlon Australia President Michelle Cooper says a thorough review would be important regardless of Games outcomes and has been part of the board’s long-term planning and commitment to continuous improvement.

Cooper said Triathlon Australia was also committed to a culture of respect within a safe and fair sporting environment and urged any athlete or coach to raise any specific concerns with Sport Integrity Australia.