Bailie attributes Olympic selection to family, coach

NSWIS triathlete Ryan Bailie has attributed his Olympic qualification to his family and coach Jamie Turner at the announcement of the six triathletes nominated to the Australian Olympic Team for the Rio Games. 

The Johannesburg born, Wollongong based Bailie will be joined by fellow NSWIS triathlete Aaron Royle in Rio, while Queenslander Ryan Fisher completes the Australian men’s contingent. Former NSWIS athlete Erin Densham, Emma Moffat and Ashleigh Gentle will represent in the Australian’s women’s race. 

Both Bailie and Royle will make their Olympic debut in Rio, the former having qualified at the recent World Triathlon Series race on the Gold Coast, the latter earning his selection at the Rio Test Event in late 2015. Bailie, who had his mother Kerrie and twin sister Alex attend the ceremony, acknowledged the role they have played in his career. 

“Your family makes so many investments along the way so we can pursue our dreams in sport so to attend the team announcement on our behalf is very special for us and for them,” said 25-year-old Bailie to Triathlon Australia.  

“They have been our biggest supporters and our sponsors over our careers and we could not have done this without them and really happy they could attend today,” 

Selection for the Olympics continues a successful period of time for Bailie, who was named Best Male Athlete and Athlete of the year at the 2016 Triathlon Australia awards, attributing his success to coach Jamie Turner. 

“I have been with Jamie Turner now for six years and he has made us the athletes we are today and shaped us into the people we are as well, teaching us so many life lessons outside triathlon, to help set us up after our careers,” he said. 

“I couldn’t even do a tumble turn in the pool until I started training with JT; I would not be an Olympian in 2016 without him – so much of it has to do with him as to where I am now.”

While based in Wollongong for the majority of their training, both Bailie and Royle split their year with stints in Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain’s Basque region in order to partake in a busy European racing schedule. Both will prepare for the Rio Olympics at their northern hemisphere base. 

Olympic bronze medallists Moffat (2008) and Densham (2012) will make history as the first two Australian triathletes to compete in three Olympic Games.