Matthew Hauser 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Team Interview

The hard work is paying off for young star Matthew Hauser with his selection confirmed for the 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Team. The 16-year-old qualified for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in China earlier this year at the Australian Junior Triathlon Series at Penrith Lakes.

This will be Hauser's first time selected for an Australian team and the young athlete cannot contain his excitement.

'Working with Brian Harrington (coach) and my fellow athletes has been amazing," Hauser said.

'It's a dream for all athletes to represent their country and doing so at such a young age is absolutely awesome and a great stepping stone for the years to come."

The Queenslander has been moving up the triathlon ranks in the last 12 months with solid performances in the youth and junior competitions.

'I won the Youth category last year and I'm also a dual junior and intermediate schools triathlon champion but making the National Talent Academy has been one of the major highlights of my short career," Hauser said.

The Xavier Catholic College student from Hervey Bay will have to push himself harder on the Nanjing triathlon course in China, as it is longer than the qualifying course at Penrith Lakes.

The Youth Olympics triathlon event is comprised of a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre bike leg and a five kilometre run. This is half the senior Olympic distance.

Hauser will have another opportunity to showcase his sporting talents in the mixed team relay, a special format of triathlon at the Youth Olympic Games. Racing alongside triathletes from Oceania countries, Hauser will compete against the other continents. The mixed team relay course is a 250m swim in open water; 6.6km cycle ride and a 1.8km run.

Australian Emma Snowsill, who won an Olympic gold edal in Triathlon at the 2008 Beijing Games, has been selected as an Athlete Role Model for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics. Snowsill's knowledge throughout the Games and inspiration will be invaluable for the athletes, in particular Hauser.

Triathlon will be held at the Xuanwu Lake in Nanjing on 17 – 20 and 21 August 2014. The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games are the second Youth Olympics after Singapore hosted in the inaugural Games in 2010.

To follow, support and find out more information about the AYOT, visit the dedicated team website nanjing2014.olympics.com.au. For the latest social media news, follow AUSOlympicTeam on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google+.

The Triathlon team for the 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Team:
Matthew Hauser (16) QLD 4655

Interview with Matthew Hauser

Question: What inspired you to begin training for triathlons?

Matthew Hauser: My coach Brian Harrington encouraged me to do my first triathlon at the Wide Bay Regional Trials when I was 12 and I qualified for the Queensland School Sport State Titles. Up until then I had done a few aquathlons (run, swim, run) and cross country running. So I started training for triathlons and found I really enjoyed the diversity of the 3 disciplines.


uestion: At what age did you become serious about triathlons?

Matthew Hauser: When I was 14 I was selected in the Queensland Triathlon Team and my parents bought me my first road bike (I had been riding a borrowed bike until then). I also got serious about improving my swimming and joined Paul Jones' squad at the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre.


Question: How does it feel to be selected for the Youth Olympic Games?

Matthew Hauser: It is a great honour to be selected to represent my country and very special because attending the Youth Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


Question: What are you looking forward to most about the Youth Olympic Games?

Matthew Hauser: The unique experience of staying at the Youth Olympic Village and meeting athletes my age from all over the world. I am also looking forward to my first real international competition.


Question: Can you talk us through your event at the Youth Olympic Games?

Matthew Hauser: I am competing in a Sprint Distance triathlon which is half the current Olympic Distance. I will swim 750m in Xuanwu Lake, followed by a 20km bike ride and finish with a 5km run. Coming from a cross country running background, the 5km run is ultimately my best leg.

Question: What about the mixed team relay?

Matthew Hauser: This will be the first time I have competed in a relay where each member does a full triathlon, but it is shorter than the individual event. All four team members will swim 250m, cycle 6.6km and run 1.8km. I am looking forward to teaming up with the New Zealand team and my fellow Australian team mate when we race together for Oceania. It will be great fun to finish off my Youth Olympic campaign with a team event.


Question: What do you hope you can learn from Emma Snowsill?

Matthew Hauser: I'd like to find out more about her experience and knowledge of the sport of triathlon and how she prepares herself and handles the pressures of competing at international and Olympic levels.


Question: Can you talk us through your training schedule approaching the Youth Olympic Games?

Matthew Hauser: I am building up a strength base in the months leading up to August - working on my strength and conditioning on the bike, increasing my cadence and fine tuning my running and maintaining strength and technique in my swim. I'm training up to 12 times a week – 8 hours swimming, 6 hours cycling, 3 hours running and 2 hours of core strength and conditioning.


Question: How will your diet develop over the coming months?

Matthew Hauser: I keep my diet pretty simple – lots of protein after training, good carbohydrates daily and pre-race, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. I try to limit fluid consumption to mainly water with some electrolyte recovery drinks.


Question: What advice do you have for others who wish to begin competing in triathlons?
Matthew Hauser: Try to embrace and balance the 3 different disciplines. If you are searching for a challenge, it is certainly a great way to keep fit. Join a local club and get involved so you can learn from others. Most of all, have fun!


Interview by Brooke Hunter