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NOVOCASTRIAN Aaron Royle is one of Australia’s rising stars in the demanding sport of triathlon. Now hitting peak form after swooping the world junior ranks, the 23-year-old is gunning for a podium finish in Glasgow and remains one our best medal hopes at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

WHAT’S HIS STORY?

A talented child swimmer inspired by the feats of Ian Thorpe and Geoff Huegill at the Sydney Olympics, Royle only took up triathlon by chance at the age of 13. A teenage Royle was on the verge of burnout when the father of a friend suggested he try the sport. Royle gave triathlon a go and was quickly hooked, winning his first amateur race in the country NSW town of Maitland. “I think every kid enjoys riding their bike and I got to do two things that I was quite good at when I was younger, swimming and running, and also got to ride my bike at the same time,” Royle says. “So I think it sort of appealed to me that way. I got sick of swimming up and down the black line. I decided that triathlon was what I wanted to do.”

At 18 he committed to the sport completely, relocating to Wollongong to be closer to his coach, and over the next few years acquired a taste for international competition. After appearing at the Youth Olympics and Junior World Championships in 2009, Royle refocused and was crowned Under-23 world champion in 2012.

Over the past few years he has added wins at major events to his impressive list of career achievements as he climbs up the rankings in the ITU World Triathlon series. After battling health problems last year, Royle began 2014 with a bang, with third and sixth-place finishes in meets at Auckland and Cape Town. Despite his natural ability, Royle has had to work hard to get to the top of Australian triathlon. “He wasn’t a big guy, he wasn’t an athlete who did well in junior sport because of his physical stature or size, or the fact he out-muscled others,” says his coach Jamie Turner, “but he had a good understanding of the processes involved and a good work-ethic.”

WHO’S HE LIKE?

Royle looked up to Aussie triathletes Peter Robinson and Emma Snowsill as a kid, but according to Bernard Savage, Triathlon Australia’s National Performance Director, the likeness between him and our great swimmers is a stronger one: “Aaron’s professionalism and his approach to his preparation, self-management and competition remind me of Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett at the height of their powers.”

That power of Royle’s in the water and his riding ability serve him well, while his times in the running leg are also improving. His mental strength is also one of his biggest weapons. “His ability to put things together under pressure is impressive,” Turner says. Royle has fought against a lack of form, equipment failure and a series of bacterial infections over the past 18 months to climb up the world rankings. Turner believes he is getting better with age: “I’d say Aaron’s been a later developer, from my perspective physically, but he’s still got many years ahead to continue to refine himself and get stronger.”

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Two of Royle’s biggest targets over the next two years are Glasgow and Rio. Those in the know claim the youngster has the right stuff to secure success and eventually end Australia’s Olympic male triathlon medal drought. “You always line up and you want to win,” Royle says. “That’s how I’ve grown up; I always want to win but I know the competition I’m up against, with the Olympic gold and bronze medallists in the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny. It won’t be easy, but I’d be happy with a podium; I think I’m in with a realistic shot at getting a podium in the individual and there’s also the team event.”

WHAT DO THEY SAY?

“Aaron is certainly a very good chance for a medal in Glasgow, in both the individual and the mixed team relay.”

‒ Bernard Savage, National Performance Director, Triathlon Australia

“Aaron has established himself as a competitor on any given day, like at the Under-23 World Championships. He can deliver great performances; personal-best-type performances at major events on a single-day competition.”

‒ Jamie Turner, Royle’s coach