Search
shop

Olympian Jake Birtwhistle set for IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania debut

Australian Olympian Jake Birtwhistle is to make his half distance debut in his home state at the first ever IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania.
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Olympian Jake Birtwhistle will make his debut at the IRONMAN 70.3 distance in his home event at the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania next Sunday (5 February).

Australian Birtwhistle represented his nation at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing 16th, while he also has gold, silver and bronze Commonwealth Games medals along with a hatful of ITU World Triathlon Series podium finishes.

Olympic focus

The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania event will be the first of its kind on the island just south of mainland Australia.

It will see competitors swim 1.9km before a 90km bike ride and 21.1km run, finishing on the waterfront in Tasmania’s state capital, Hobart.

And for 28-year-old Birtwhistle, it promises to be a special homecoming on his first race, and an opportunity he simply couldn’t turn down.

“The Tasmanian race had a big impact on my decision,” he explained, talking about why he decided to step up and attempt the half-distance IRONMAN, adding: “I’ve been playing with the idea of doing some long course racing over the last 12 to 18 months, but realistically I didn’t think I’d do it until after next year.

“Until then my focus will still be on the Olympics, I want to get through this next Olympic cycle and give it everything that I’ve got and then after that I imagine I’ll switch over to the IRONMAN 70.3s and then eventually, maybe, IRONMAN, who knows.

Jake Birtwhistle on course at the Garmin Noosa Triathlon - Photo Korupt Vision
Jake Birtwhistle at the Garmin Noosa Triathlon [Photo credit: Korupt Vision]

“Being in Tassie, as a Tasmanian, it felt like too good of an opportunity to miss, especially when I was already getting motivated by the idea.

“That time will come soon when I will fully step up, but for now it’s a bit of an exploration to see what it’s all like and hopefully I’ll enjoy it and that will be the path I’ll lead after next year.”

Home comforts

Tasmania is a unique part of the country and Birtwhistle has said it’s a special moment to be able participate in an elite level race in his home state.

“It’s really exciting,” he said, “I love Tassie, I’ll always come back here after the season.”

“This is my home, it’s great to get some cool events like that down here, hopefully it will really show to the world, show to Australia, what we’ve got down here and what we’ve got to offer.

“I think it’s going to be a great event and I’m really looking forward to getting to have a big race like that in my home state which doesn’t happen too often.”

Visions of (realistic) glory

Birtwhistle has admitted he’s been drawn into dreaming of a perfect debut at the longer distances, but he’s also admitted he knows what to expect from his own body.

“I’m definitely excited to race,” Birtwhistle explained, “I had these visions of tearing the world up in training leading into it but unfortunately that’s not the case.”

“I’m tracking pretty well for this early point of the year, this will be a really good indicator for where things are at and obviously it’s a big day out for me, over double the normal distance that I race, if all else fails it will be a great training day.

“I’m looking forward to it and am really excited, I’ll give it everything and have a red-hot crack and see what happens.”

Going the distance

The step up from Olympic distance can be a big ask, especially when not dedicating oneself wholly to longer distance races, and Birtwhistle is fully aware he should expect different challenges along the way.

“I’m going in pretty blindly at this stage still,” he admitted, “as I get a bit closer, in the last few days, I might ask some beginner questions to some people.”

“I think really I’m not changing too much, my training plan is still exactly the same as it would have been otherwise, I’m just spending a bit more time on the time trial bike which is a nice change.

“The only real thing I need to wrap my head around is the nutrition which is obviously quite a lot different to Sprint and Olympic distance that I’m used to, that will be something that is completely new to me but it’s all a part of the excitement of doing the first one.”

But at least he knows there will be the support of his fellow Tasmanians to power him home.

“I’d love to get a bit of help out there to carry me through the course because no doubt it’s going to be a tough one,” he said, “I don’t know the roads too well but I’ve heard it’s hilly so I’ll be expecting a tough day which I think will be hurting most people’s legs through the backend of the run.”

“I’d love a bit of home support, I know I’ll have my family down there to support and it’s just nice to have an easy race to get to, I can just pack up the car and drive down.

“It’s going to almost feel like a local race for me but it’s obviously that next level up which is really cool.”

Patrick Ryan
Written by
Patrick Ryan
Patrick is a major contributor to TRI247 and RUN247. A keen hiker and wide experience in sports journalism, he has covered Olympics, Commonwealth Games.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Sam Laidlow celebrates Challenge Roth win 2025
IRONMAN Leeds 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live
Anne Haug wins Challenge Roth 2024 [Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth]
Triathlon legend and current world record holder Anne Haug announces her retirement
Lovseth Perterer Sanchez IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
Rising Norwegian star underlines Kona claims and says that’s now the big goal
Vincent Luis San Francisco 49ers tri suit 2025
Short-course triathlon great Vincent Luis is OUT of T100 London
Marquardt Hogenhaug Foley IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
‘World Championship level’ – Marquardt says bike bar was raised at Lake Placid
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...