Bryan Keane’s “Road to Rio”

Olympic Council of Ireland Rio 2016 Scholarship athlete Bryan Keane gives an update on his progress this season on the #roadtorio.

“This time last year I had a lot less racing done this early in the season, so far had 4 races and I have had a very mixed start to my season. It’s hard coming out early in the season to race but it’s almost the same for everybody, I say almost as right now I’m in Australia and they have it much easier down here. While us Northern Hemisphere athletes put up with a typically horrid winter, down here they have been basking in summer sun. Getting ready to race, My first race of the year was the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Triathlon race in Abu Dhabi, I finished 37th a disappointing result considering the form I was in, I missed the front pack out of the water and that sadly put an end to a good result on the day.

From Abu Dhabi I went on to Australia where I have been based and will stay until May, I’m loosely attached to a group of 20 or so international triathletes from Australia, Canada, America and a sprinkling of some other nations, it’s a little united nations of triathlon, and we train out of a small town called Wollongong an hour south from Sydney. We all race the same circuit and we are all chasing Olympic Qualification. There is no better training environment than a daily competitive one.

I raced Mooloolaba ITU World Cup a week after Abu Dhabi, jet leg get the better of me and I came home in 28th place, my good run legs from the week before had abandoned me, Travelling and racing is a delicate balance between rest and training while making sure you are not doing to much to stress the body and put yourself in a little hole. I underestimated it and did too much when I arrived; rather than ease myself back into training. I pushed on when I shouldn’t have. I was disappointed to let that race get away from me as I previously finished 4th there in 2013.

I had a little bit of redemption in Gold Coast ITU World Triathlon, 2 weeks ago where I finished 27th, a better all around performance and a nice building block towards my next two races in May. I’m just 3 weeks away from Chengdu World Cup in China and a week later, Yokohama World Series in Japan.

I’m getting excited to race again as my form is improving and with that I hope a more complete performance in these races, I need two big race results and these are the ones I’m targeting, lots of work to done, on with the eat sleep train”.

You can follow Bryan’s journey to Rio  @tribryan

Thanks Bryan!

Bryan Keane Grand Final

Scroll to Top