It takes three times the talent and triple the skillset, but triathletes are motivated by both the pleasure and the pain of training and competing in their chosen sport.
Tackling swim, ride and run legs in a single event may seem beyond even the most active sportspeople, but for those who compete in rather than just complete triathlons, the pace, the rush and the rigour of competition keep them coming back, even after setback and injury.
At just 18, Hunter McGovern has already had his share of highs and lows.
Hailing from Mackay, McGovern is making his mark as a highly competitive and passionate triathlete, even if coronavirus has interrupted and reshaped his hopes and plans.
It took him, briefly, across the world. McGovern placed what he called “filthy fourth” in the 2019 World Triathlon Grand Final 16-19 male division in Lausanne, Switzerland. The competition at the end of the European summer was his first international race.
“I was hoping to go to World Champs last year again, which was in Canada,” he said. “But it got cancelled due to COVID; it was a bit of a bummer.”
Just before the world was put on pause by the global pandemic, McGovern went one better in a lesser event, but one that was high profile nonetheless.
He finished third in his hard-fought category of the Luke Harrop Memorial Triathlon at the Gold Coast, and because the triathlon community had its eyes on the hot, fast race, they sat up and look note of the young bolt of lightning.
McGovern’s podium finish was no one-off. On a blisteringly hot March morning, Hunter finished second in his division at the Mooloolaba Triathlon.
These are little highs that serve to keep him moving forward with his sport as he waits for the world to open up again.
McGovern moved to the Sunshine Coast in February, a change he hopes will help him step up to the next level in competitive triathlon.
Coached by Peter McKenzie of Race Pace Coaching Noosa, McGovern is surrounded by motivated and experienced people in the industry. He struggled in Mackay with the lack of fellow competitors in his age group, but since moving to the Sunshine Coast he has had a spike in motivation.
Despite suffering from an injury to his elbow that required six stitches from a bike crash in December at the Super Sprint Weekend at Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast, McGovern continued to compete.
“I fell off my bike just riding the course to get familiar with it,” he said. “I don’t even know how I did it. I was laughing. I did the 1500m triathlon and two mini triathlons before I pulled out the third day.
“My arm was hurting, and I couldn’t get it wet.”
This young triple threat started with a swimming background that gradually evolved into cross country and then biking. He said this combination meant triathlon was a natural progression in 2016.
“I’ve loved it ever since I started,” McGovern said. “It’s been great.”
McGovern is also using the COVID lockdown time for other, cerebral pursuits. He started a Bachelor of Nursing Science at USC, and the budding athlete has found a world of support.
The USC High Performance Student Athlete Program aids students in achieving their athletic goals by allowing free access to the running track and swimming facilities, nutritionists and even assignment extensions.
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It also helps athletes find a timetable that suits their training needs, something McGovern said helped enormously with his daily juggle.
For the time being, McGovern has his nursing science studies to focus on and also trains up to three times a day. The rigour of training is not for the faint-hearted, but McGovern says COVID had been instrumental in helping him motivate himself.
“Because there was no racing, I wasn’t getting results so I kind of set little goals in my training,” he said. “I guess that helped motivate me a bit more.”
Along with his commitment to his training, McGovern is also committed to helping others.
Working as a lifeguard, being a first aider at sports events and volunteering at hospitals was the eye opener that inspired his interest in studying nursing science.
With hopes to travel and compete internationally, he said that working as a nurse overseas would be a perfect balance.
“Another reason why I thought nursing would be perfect is because I can travel with it, I guess and I’ll get a job hopefully anywhere,” McGovern said.
This profile is part of a series on sportsmen and women in the USC High Performance Student Athlete program. The writer is a USC journalism student.
