Hong Kong coach sees Olympic future for sprint triathlon as team get set for Asian event
Andrew Wright expects ‘fast and entertaining’ distances to eventually rule triathlon, challenges home athletes to perform under pressure
The Hong Kong head coach, Andrew Wright, has predicted an Olympics future where “spectator-friendly” sprint triathlon replaces standard distance races.
Talking before Hong Kong hosts this weekend’s Asia Sprint Championships, Wright also tipped the 70.3-kilometre half-ironman discipline for Games inclusion.
Hong Kong will have eight men and four women competing in Saturday’s Central Harbourfront races, which feature swimming, biking and running legs covering 750 metres (0.47 miles), 20 kilometres and 5km, respectively. The comparative Olympic distances are exactly twice as long.
“You can see where triathlon and other sports are going: their popularity depends on them being spectator friendly,” Wright said. “We are moving to short, sharp, fast and entertaining distances.
“It might be that [in major Games], you have the 70.3km, which is very popular, and the sprint. The Olympic distance can be a bit boring, watching athletes parading around on the bike for an hour.”
After World Triathlon began awarding equal ranking points for sprint and standard races, there is plenty on the line this weekend for the home athletes trying to secure National Games qualification. Any top-five finishers will be guaranteed spots for November’s home event.