Following the allocation of two additional open athlete positions, Jack Latham and Hannah Pollock will don the green and gold with an updated triathlon team announced today.

Latham and Pollock join Oscar Wootton and Aspen Anderson, who were announced in June, in the team, with all four set to compete when triathlon makes its debut at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

All four will compete in the respective men’s and women’s event, coming together to also compete in the Mixed Relay Triathlon as they make their Australian debuts.

Both Latham and Pollock were part of the Oceania Team that were recently crowned the Olympic Esport World Duathlon Champions.

Meanwhile Wootton and Anderson arrive in Tobago with recent success under their belt, with Anderson the silver medallist at the Australian Junior Championships held in Port Adelaide and Wootton a medal winner at both the Australian Grand Prix Triathlon and the Pho3nic Gold Coast Triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial.

Wootton noted the privilege in being selected to the team, recognising the opportunity that it provides for his continued development as an athlete.

“It’s a great privilege. I’ve grown up watching people in the under 23s and elites go through the same process, so it’s exciting to know I’m on the same path,” Wootton said.

“To compete for Australia is always something I’ve wanted to do.

“I’ve only been overseas once, so getting to see a new part of the world, so understanding how to travel and race under different conditions than Australia is something I’m looking forward to.”

Anderson echoed Wootton, confirming she is incredibly excited to represent Australia on the world stage.

“Representing Australia was definitely something I was working towards. I didn’t know it would be the Commonwealth Youth Games, so that was exciting,” Anderson said.

“There’s been a lot of hard work put into this.

“I’m quite excited to go overseas. This will be my first time travelling with a team”

Triathlon Australia’s National Talent Development Coach, Brendan Sexton congratulated the two athletes, noting the opportunities that participating in the Games provides for an athlete’s development.

“Junior Australian athletes rarely get the chance to compete against their international peers so an opportunity like this will allow Oscar and Aspen to experience a competition pool wider and deeper than they have before,” Sexton said.

“To prepare, travel, watch, celebrate and share a multi-event experience with athletes from many other sports and many other nationalities is usually only experienced at the pointy end of an athlete’s career.

“To be able to be immersed in a trip like this at such a young age not only provides athletes with valuable knowledge and tools for later in their athletic life but the friends and memories made will be unique.”

The individual Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Relay Triathlon will make its debut at the Trinbago2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, with the events taking place in Buccoo Bay on the southwest tip of Tobago on the 6 and 8 of August.