Lane Cove local Anthony Doyle will represent Australia at the World Triathlon Multisport World Championships. But the Firetrail investment strategist wasn’t always an athlete, rather embracing the lifestyle after reaching a milestone.
“I took the opportunity, when I was 40, to run more during COVID and things like that. And the challenges just grew from there… Maybe it was a midlife crisis,” Anthony joked.
“Bit of a dream to wear the green and gold and to do it now at 43.”
“So if you want to have ambitions of wearing the green and gold too, it’s not too late.”
The Multisport World Triathlon is an annual championship that pits thousands of athletes from around the globe against one another across 19 different races. This year’s event will be hosted in Townsville.
The competition has five categories for different levels of athletes, including age group, para triathletes, junior, under 23 and elites. The championships kick off on August 15th, and Anthony’s event will be held on the 22nd. Event schedule
“I’m doing what’s called the cross Duathlon. It’s a trail run, and then a mountain bike and then a trail run.
“It’s around 10 to 12 hours a week training, and I’ve been training now for about five months. I’ve been running into work in the city, running around Lane Cove National Park, and then getting on my road bike as often as I can as well.”
The championships are governed by World Triathlon and Aus Triathlon who host qualifier races for the competition throughout the year. Anthony is in the top 14 people in his demographic who qualified for his event, and funnily enough, so is his best mate.
“I’m doing it with my best mate since we were six. We both made the team and put on the green and gold. We get together and we’re still just like six-year-olds.
“It’s intense competition with this guy. His name is Gabriel, and definitely, it doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s running down the street or running in the world champs and riding in the world champs, it’ll be full on. So there’ll be nothing given. But after that, obviously good mates again.”
The financial strategist said previously one of the most dangerous things he’s done in a minute was a local dad oz tag comp with dads “going down left, right and centre, with Achilles and hamstring injuries.”
However, the local says he’s done plenty of training with the Hunters Hill Triathlon Club and traversed the ‘technical’ areas of Manly Dam and believes the terrain in Port Stephens, where the circuit will be held, will be pretty similar.
Anthony expressed a few motivations for his newfound gruelling athletic lifestyle but disclosed his main inspiration is keeping fit for his children.
“When you have three young kids, you realise you want to be able to go around and kick a footy with them and go out, and they’re such active little beings that you need high energy levels to keep up with them.
“The oldest is quite a good runner. His name’s Oscar. So He’s eight years old and probably already better than me… he’s coming up to watch.”
Although he will give his all while competing, Anthony says the experience will be a personal journey for him and believes mutual encouragement is key when running with his fellow athletes.
“It’s always been more about personal challenges… if you can come back with no regrets, no punctures or anything like that. I think you’re going to be pretty happy.
“Everyone wants to do super well, and even when you’re out there running, you know, encouraging other people and things like that is important.”
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