Ashleigh Gentle and Jake Birtwhistle will lead a fully-stocked Australian triathlon squad in their push for gold in Tokyo, where the debut of a mixed relay will give them a double chance of silverware.
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Rio Olympians Gentle and Aaron Royle return for their second Games, while Birtwhistle, Matt Hauser, Jaz Hedgeland and Emma Jeffcoat will all make their Olympic debut after their performances ensured Australia was the only country to secure the maximum six slots.
Gentle and Birthwhistle are proven World Triathlon Series standouts while Australia has medalled in the last five Mixed Relay World Championships.
Royle, Hauser, Hedgeland and Jeffcoat saw off a crowded field of contenders for the remaining slots and will ensure Australia has a numerical advantage at the Odaiba Marine Park later this month.
Emma Snowsill won Australia's only triathlon gold at Beijing 2008 to go with two other women's silver and bronze medals, however no Australian man has medalled since the sport was introduced at Sydney's 2000 Games.
Triathlon Australia's performance director Justin Drew believes Birtwhistle - the only man to win two WTS events in the 2019 season - has the runs on the board to change that.
But it's the relay, which will see four members complete a 300m swim, 8km cycle and 2km run, where Australia's depth can shine.
"It is not a surprise that no matter where our athletes have been based around the world that it has been one incredibly demanding campaign, but it's always apparent that the focus has been about performing in Tokyo which is what we want to do," he said"
"The Australian team has had some great success in the relay ... and when they do race for that team and no matter what that combination is they set out to do something special."
Australian Associated Press
