It's fair to say the Brownlees and Javier Gomez are the "it" guys on the circuit at the moment, and with good reason. But what would they think of an athlete with a 12:54min PB for 5000m coming into the sport? How about if that same athlete had some real swimming ability, and in some brief stints on a bike put dents in the age-old Falls Creek climb TT record? What would they think about that prospect?Welcome (back) to triathlons, Mr. Craig Mottram.
This news (or rumour?) should grab attention and headlines in triathlon, even in the aftermath of the London Olympics, since it marks the move of a significant international single-sport athlete into ITU triathlons. The fact he is an Australian could also help save face in the TA high performance department, and maybe prompt some other (near) elite runners to also consider a move into triathlons, short-cutting the traditional life-long development path most triathletes follow. The word out of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) is that Mottram is likely to be listed as a transition athelte and move from the athletics to triathlon. And if it isn't to be Mottram would this type of experiment work with other transition athletes?
But what of Mottam's potential in triathlons…would he be a serious contender in Rio in 2016?
Going back many years Mottram was a very good junior triathlete, winning the Australian National Schools Triathlon championship before opting for a very successful international running career, highlighted by a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2005 World Championships, a famous silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and a PB of 12:54min. His running achievements are almost legendary in Australia, and he commands respect whenever he lines up in a race over any distance.
That was all before he got a serious Achilles injury in 2008/09, which took until 2010/11 to really get over and back into serious competition again, albeit not reaching the same level as before. It was during this time that his rehab included significant cross-training under the guidance of a top triathlon coach, and a select few got to witness his talents in the pool and on the bike…and were mighty impressed. His swimming ability, according to some of the firstoffthebike.com sharing pool space for some time in our swim squad…he sure can swim.
While we are short on actual numbers measuring his ability, we'll just work from anecdotal statements and ponder what he might be do, and bring to the sport although once again the word around the tri traps is that his 'number' show a man on the way up. Of course, his swimming will be crucial, since the Olympics showed again how important the role it plays in the race outcome is. His recent forays into swimming have been to complement his running rehab, and not necessarily to develop him into the best swimmer he can be - this would take many months of high volume training, and some more. He needs to aim to be in the front pack, wetsuit or not. This is where the most work would be required, and perhaps where the biggest transformation is necessary in becoming a triathlete.
Then comes the ride. Although he is "all legs", on a bike he is reportedly a natural (to an extent), with good skills and great climbing ability. His cycling ability would come in time, combined with good guidance and coaching…not to mention the bike sponsorship deal he has reportedly signed, already!!
Now onto the run, his strength, although Mottram would be the first to say that you don't take up cycling to improve your running…rather, that cycling makes your running legs dead and heavy. That's something he'll need to deal with. Nonetheless, it is his run leg that would stand him apart heading out of T2, and fans around would be salivating about how fast he might run. Looking to his recent running form for indicators is tricky…his results range from 13:18min (5000m) to a disappointing 13:45min at the Olympics, and 28:50min for 10,000m last December. He's recently been consistently in the 13:20-30min range for 5000m, which is OK for a runner but very good for a triathlete. One wonders what he might run once he's into a routine of swim, bike and run training?
Then there are the complicating aspects of how he will run off the bike, mastering transitions, tactics, and not to mention his age (31)…already past where the best ITU athletes are peaking. On the flip side, he is a very race smart athlete, a quick learner, and brings a wealth of international athletic experience to both his training and racing. But his potential move does raise a myriad of questions. And these could prove to be the sticking point. Does the VIS take a chance on the durability of Mottram? Is this just a band aid solution in the wake of Post Games finger pointing? Or should Triathlon Australia continue to nurture younger talent which seems to be the methodology du jour of the current powerhouses.
Above all that, Mottram would bring new attention to the sport in a similar - but much smaller - way that Lance Armstrong did. Mottram is well known to the public and media both here and overseas, and he would attract great attention and support from many quarters. Already he has a very knowledgable and experienced team in his corner advising and helping him along the path ahead - the people he turned to during his rehab, and more. He has connections that fledgling pros don't have, which can be invaluable, opening key doors for him. But we saw the same scenario with Macca last season and although he boosted the profile of the Australian team results are what will ultimately pay the bills.
So how would be likely go in a triathlon? Chances are he will be successful. It will be fascinating watching his progress and development into this new sport…maybe he should have made the decision 4 years ago!
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