It has been a long road to recovery for Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club athlete Emma McInnes. She suffered a road bike accident at the end of 2017, detaching her triceps tendon from her elbow, and needing 25 stitches above her eye. She had five months away from the sport in recovery.
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The young athlete from Inverell quickly returned to form on the road, the bike and in the water. Her first event back was the State All-Schools Triathlon in Sydney where she finished 20th.
It was a great effort considering she was still going through rehab. Emma followed that up with a strong performance in one of the biggest Triathlon competitions in Queensland, the Kingscliff Triathlon. She finished as the 7th female out of 110 competitors.
Emma spent the past weekend in an inter-academy training session with the Illawarra Academy of Sport. Australian Olympic triathlete Brendan Sexton headlined the camp.
The 2012 London Olympics competitor gave the athletes tips on their open water racing and their bike skills. Emma was invited to stay and participate in further training on the Monday and Tuesday where she got some one-on-one training with Sexton.
Emma says she really got a lot out of the experience. “It has been excellent to receive some coaching from a former Olympian and someone of Brendan's calibre. Apart from swim squad it is the first time I have had any specialist training and I have really enjoyed it.”
“Definitely, a lot of work was done on bike skills with the aim of enabling those at the camp to race in draft legal events down the track. I have many things I can now practice when I go home to improve my skills.”
“It has been a fantastic opportunity and I am very grateful to NIAS for organising it for me.”
The triathlon season is wrapping up but Emma has her eyes set on the Byron Bay event on the 12th of May. She is targeting the sprint race which involves a 750m ocean swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run.
NIAS CEO James Cooper says Emma is following in the footsteps of former NIAS (2009) triathlete and Australian representative Jack Hickey from Gunnedah.
ATHLETE PROFILE: Bridie Martin
Sport? Athletics
What town or city are you from? I am from Tamworth.
How long have you been involved with NIAS? I have participated in athletics for over eight years, but this is my first year as a part of NIAS.
Age? I’m 16.
Why did you get involved in the NIAS program? To help improve my ability as an athlete and experience different coaching techniques.
Highest achievement? I came 5th in the U14 400m at the CHS State finals and also, I ran a PB in the 400m in March this year at State Little As.
Heroes? Morgan Mitchell and Sally Pearson.
Where do you see the NIAS program taking you? Each season I set goals, once I achieve them I focus on the next goal, I'll just see where those goals can take me