Ashleigh Gentle and the T100 tour

Ashleigh Gentle is an important figure in the triathlon world. The Australian athlete, born in 1991, has a natural talent for running and a seemingly endless reserve of energy. She is known for her skill during the third of the three triathlon disciplines, where her talent for running allows her to pull through, climb positions and leave many of her rivals behind. Ashleigh has been interested in sport since she was little, especially athletics, and it was at school that she met a family friend who suggested she give triathlon a try, which marked the beginning of her triathlon career. 

 

Originally from Brisbane, Gentle found that triathlon was a comprehensive discipline that allowed her to fulfill her potential. At first, swimming was her greatest challenge, but in time she became a prominent triathlete. It wasn’t long before her talent began to show through and by the age of 16 she was already competing at national level. In 2010, she was crowned champion of the Junior Grand Final in Budapest, which was a victory that marked a turning point in her sporting career, opening the doors for her to compete with the elite. 

 

Ashleigh has had some unforgettable moments representing Australia at the World Triathlon Championship Series: she has competed at the Commonwealth games, the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2017 she claimed her first victory at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Montreal, which she recognises as one of the most exciting achievements of her career. The following year in her home country she would go on to win silver at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. These moments not only secured her position as one of the best triathletes in Australia, but also on a world scale. Her short distance triumphs include huge feats at the Continental Cups, World Cups and World Triathlon Championship Series Tests.

 

In recent years she has demonstrated her versatility in adapting to middle distance events, having made a significant impact at the 70.3 middle distance triathlon as well as a flawless debut at the 2023 PTO Tour Tests.

 

This new format is composed of a total distance of 100 kilometres: a 2km swim, 80km cycle and 18km run - a distance the Australian has been able to adapt to and master right from the start.

 

In 2024, the PTO (Professional Triathlon Organisation) partnered with the ITU to create the new T100 middle distance triathlon circuit - a professionalised circuit which sees athletes travel all over the world to compete in six tests and a grande final during what is one of the longest seasons in the history of triathlon.

 

Miami, Singapore, San Francisco, London, Ibiza, Las Vegas and lastly, Dubai, were the stage for the evolution of this triathlon event, bringing together the world’s best triathletes to deliver a show in the sport that could never disappoint.   

 

In Singapore, Gentle took home victory, finishing with a time of 3:44:23 after an incredible performance, despite the difficulty posed by the hot and humid conditions. At the T100 in  London, Gentle made a huge comeback in the final stage, beating strong components such as Imogen Simmonds and Kat Matthews and going on to win the test. As well as unbeatable results like these, she achieved fourth place in Ibiza and seventh place in San Francisco, where the athletes went head to head round the emblematic Escape from Alcatraz circuit, a test characterised by its cold and adverse climate conditions.

 

 

At the finals in Dubai, after pushing her body to the limit and finding herself behind only Taylor Knibb and Switzerland’s Julie Derron, she came third and consolidated her position as runner-up in the ranking of the first T100 World Championships. 

 

Gentle has managed to adapt accordingly to the T100’s distance and format, and her ability to perform well in this circuit shows how capable she is of making an impact at middle and long distance triathlon events. It’s not only her achievements that make her stand out; her charisma and determination inspire new triathletes all over the world. Her story is proof that an ongoing effort and passion for the sport can take you far. There is still much to be seen of Gentle in the future, and there’s no doubt that she will continue to give us some memorable moments in triathlon.