Long course triathlon has long been the poor cousin of its short course counterpart.

Now, we all know that long course and Ironman distance races are a significant growth area in Australia. The number of new half Ironman and Ironman races in Australia and worldwide are testament to this fact.

So why the difference?

I think the source of the problem lies with a distinct lack of support and proper management from those who should be the guardian of our sport, Triathlon Australia. In order to ensure the continued health and future of the sport we need to provide for the development of a new generation of athletes.

Triathlon Australia currently gives short course athletes this support through its development program, however no such program exists for long course athletes. Without any such program implemented for long course, there is nothing to ensure that up and coming athletes have something to aim for and the infrastructure in place to guide their continued development.

One step further on and this absence of support is still glaringly obvious. There is a notable lack of funding from Triathlon Australia for current long course athletes for such support measures as testing, training camps or elite squads. We can see the performance benefits short course athletes gain from this support, so why not include long course athletes in this ongoing development of triathlon?

Nowhere else is the dichotomy between long and short course more evident than in the issue of prize money. A prime example of this is the total purse offered at the Australian Sprint Championships of $50,000, which is provided by Triathlon Australia. Compare that with the $10,000 prize purse ($5,000 from Triathlon Australia) on offer at the Australian Long Course Championships, and Triathlon Australia’s comparative neglect of long course is clearly seen.

Don’t get me wrong; I am not at all suggesting short course does not deserve their funding. What I am saying is that long course deserves and sorely needs a fair go from Triathlon Australia.

With the launch of Triathlon Australia’s new National Series with half a million dollars in prize money I would have thought it a great opportunity to include a long course race. This would have profiled a growing and dynamic, yet still somehow forgotten, sector of the triathlon community.

This sort of promotion is what has been in place for short course for a number of years now and what is still needed for long course. Triathlon Australia needs to be seen to also support the long course component of our sport. In the current circumstances Triathlon Australia’s lack of attention hinders the growth of long course in two ways.

Firstly, long course loses out directly from the lack of financial contribution and then secondly, it makes it difficult to secure potential sponsors who are put off by the fact that we appear to not have the faith and support of our own governing body.

Triathlon’s governing body is meant to represent all triathletes in Australia, long and short course alike. We all pay the same licensing fees and yet Triathlon Australia seems to be putting all of their time, effort and resources into only a part of the triathlon community.

Whilst we do not begrudge short course their support from Triathlon Australia, and their public recognition and exposure, surely Triathlon Australia must see to the development of all areas of triathlon.

This is not about short course versus long course. We do not want short course athletes getting their backs up over the comparisons being made here. It is simply that in order to highlight what still needs to be addressed in long course, we can only effectively compare it with what short course has (thankfully) and rightfully achieved. What this is about is standing together as a united triathlon community. Collectively we all want what’s best for the sport of triathlon, and improving the support and development of long course can only enhance the exposure and popularity of the sport as a whole.