Gentle a giant in Montreal win

NSWIS Triathlete Ashleigh Gentle secured her first ever World Series triathlon in Montreal overnight, an impressive victory in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games next year.

The former world junior champion had recorded five silver medals in the elite World Series previously, but finally broke through in a difficult race. She had arrived in Canada suffering from illness, and fainted 20 minutes after a gruelling race, but was delighted to be on top of the podium.

As she told the Daily Telegraph, “I’m in shock really … I can’t believe it. I had my first WTS start in the London Test event in 2011 so it’s been six long years of ups and downs, five silver medals and finally I’ve had a win … that was a tough race for me.”

It is also an excellent result for the Australian triathlon team as a whole, with sights set on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games next April. Gentle and her teammates are receiving specialist support and funding from NSWIS through the Campaign Gold Coast – and this result will only add expectation for a medal winning performance at the Games.