Paralympic hopeful David Bryant had a firsthand look at the competition course he hopes to swim, bike, run at in 2020, after he competed at the weekend’s Tokyo Test Event at Odaiba Marin Park.
The 30-year-old gave the Tokyo Paralympic course a red hot crack too, taking fifth place overall in a time of 56:55mins.
Para-triathlon will make just its second appearance on the Paralympic sport roster in Tokyo, after it first featured in 2016 at the Rio Games.
Bryant is aiming to emulate the feats of fellow West Australian Brant Garvey – who made history in 2016 as one of the first para-triathletes to represent Australia in the new Paralympic discipline.
The Test Event – which is part of the multisport “Ready, Steady, Tokyo” initiative, has aimed to pilot the completed competition venues ahead of next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. For the triathlon and para-triathlon athletes, they were pitted against extreme temperatures and humidity.
Having been aware of the likely weather conditions in Tokyo, Bryant had completed a training block at WAIS in advance of travelling to Japan, where he utilised the Institute’s climate chamber – which allowed him to prepare in conditions that simulated what he experienced on the weekend.
The grounding no doubt served him well, as he toiled in oppressive conditions to take fifth place, but crucially, he was well within striking distance of a podium place, which will undoubtedly form an aim for next year’s Games – should he secure nomination.
Bryant will look to enhance that bid, when he takes to the World Triathlon Grand Final which will be held in Switzerland next month. A strong performance there, will significantly boost Australia’s prospects of securing a quota spot for Tokyo, which Bryant would then aim to fill.
