Thanyapura Phuket announces new professional triathlon team

By Wires May 9, 2016

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Six up-and-coming triathletes are set for the opportunity of a lifetime as Thanyapura Phuket announces the members of its professional triathlon team.

As Asia’s top sports training center that offers fitness, health and wellbeing programs set in world-class facilities open to the public, Thanyapura in northern Phuket is uniquely situated at the heart of the booming Asian triathlon scene.

After announcing a global search last month and receiving dozens of applications, Thanyapura’s executive chairman and four-time triathlon world champion Chris McCormack whittled the candidates down to six who can best represent Thanyapura and will benefit from this relationship.

“The global development of my sport is something that motivates me on a daily basis,” says McCormack. “At Thanyapura we have some of the best sporting hardware in the world, with incredible training facilities and amazing expertise. But my absolute passion is in driving young aspiring athletes to pursue their sporting ambitions and chase their dreams of athletic success. I am so excited and pumped by the number of athletes who applied, and am stoked to announce and work with this group.”

Thanyapura Triathlon Team members will be based out of Phuket for training and racing. They will be provided team racing and training kit, full board at Thanyapura and access to its training facilities, and private cottage housing nearby — an athlete village. They will be able to train among peers, world champions, and the world’s best athletes and race the region’s top events to push them to optimize their potential.

Partnership with AsiaTRI.com

We have also partnered with AsiaTRI to make sure the team has great media coverage in its events around Asia and everyone can follow their success and enjoy their training tips along the way. AsiaTRI is the destination on-line for anything triathlon related in Asia.

The athletes are:

Antony Costes – the 26-year-old Frenchman is currently ranked #2 in the world Ironman 70.3 rankings and has already racked up several wins this year. His sights are set on the Ironman 70.3 World Championships and Ironman World Championships. Currently finishing up his Ph.D. in

biomechanics, Costes will be joining the team in Phuket starting in July.

Bryce McMaster – the 25-year-old Kiwi was one of the greatest talents in the sport as a junior, cleaning up at all the junior titles and named in all the top development squads in New Zealand and Australia. Due to financial issues he walked away from the sport in 2013 but always had the itch to give it another go. Bryce’s raw talent combined with full support from Thanyapura should see him take his game to his full potential.

Anan Duangsopa – Considered to be the most talented Thai athlete at present, the 34-year-old has just left Navy service to focus and train full time as a triathlete. We could very well see a new #1 in Thailand in 2017.

Amelia Watkinson – One of the greatest female talents to come out of New Zealand in a while, the 27-year-old turned down the NZ national cycling team to turn pro triathlete in 2014, notching her first win that same year. She has the talent to threaten the absolute best females in the world for the top spot.

Katy Duffield – The 30-year-old Perth native went pro two years ago after a successful campaign to qualify for the Ironman World Championship as an age grouper alongside her twin sister Michelle. Katy has gone from strength to strength focusing on the half-distance, racing all over the Asia Pacific region and qualifying for the 2015 Ironman 70.3 Championship.

Michelle Duffield – Mim competed in her first sprint triathlon at age 18 and was hooked, also inspiring her twin sister to take up the sport. After qualifying as an age grouper for Kona in 2011 and 2013 and winning silver in her age group, she turned pro and has stayed at the pointy end of the field even while working a full-time job.

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Aside from providing an environment where they can flourish athletically, McCormack also hopes to guide them in the business side of professional triathlon. He states, “I hope that our Thanyapura Triathlon team can be the catalyst for these athletes to launch their athletic careers! It is such a tough journey to embark on, and sport is cruel and lonely. I know only too well the highs and lows of sport and my aspirations now are to guide the next wave of champions to continue to chase their personal goals. I have the capacity and the influence to give back to sport, and I have ensured I have done that in every way I can. Sport gave me my life and I have no regrets at all.“

The Thanyapura Triathlon Team will race together for the first time on May 21 at the Pattaya Triathlon, part of the Thailand Tri-League Series. The team has also partnered with AsiaTRI to ensure avid fans of triathlon can follow their successes and pick up useful training tips as they race around Asia.