Atkinson hit the ground running in 2009 with the a win at the Australian Sprint Distance Championships in Hobart. He then stole his second Mooloolaba Triathlon crown in March to show he is in top shape for the uncharted territory of triathlon's first World Series.
Think Formula One car racing - this is the new way of triathlon
Atkinson will now build for Tongyeong in South Korea (May 2-3) for the first race of the new World Series to test himself against the top Europeans who have posted little early-season race form to gauge. "The number of races I am aiming to compete in has trebled from past years," he said. "The idea is to get out racing regularly early in the season to give me of motivation to get back to top form before theMay start to the season." Atkinson will be competing in some some of the WCS and American nondrafting races."This means moving the family with me OS for the OZ winter."
Although it is one of the most grueling sports imaginable and Atkinson admitted there were times he wished he’d become a pro surfer or snowboarder, he actually loves what he does. “It’s a great sport to be a professional at,” he said. It has the variety in it with the bike, swimming and running so you never get too bored with it because you are not just doing the one thing day in, day out."
“Nothing beats the reward of crossing the line first in an event after months of preparation. I wake up every day and do what I love. I think even if I had a 9-5 office job I would still get up in the mornings and do training of some type and compete in sport still. Competition is in my blood and when I haven’t raced in a while I get very itchy to race again in some form.”
When he’s not competing, Atkinson says he enjoys a normal home life with his wife, Kinga, and little daughter, Chloe. Catching up with friends for a barbecue is the norm for this commerce graduate and poker is his escape from the world of triathlon. He’s certainly grounded and for ‘Acko’, as his mates call him, this is only the beginning of his sporting journey. “In the back of my mind I would like to think that I am still around when London comes. But that is a long time away and there are so many things I would like to achieve in the sport of triathlon before I retire. I am 30 at the moment, and it seems that guys are hitting their best years in sport in their early 30s, so I have a few years to go I would think!”
The nature of Olympic Distance Triathlon has recentlychanged. Gone is the single ITU World Championship event and in its place is a innovative ITU World Championship Series (WCS). "Racing will be in some of the biggest cities around the globe, live HD TV, injection of money with the winner of the series being crowned World Champion," said Atkinson. "Think Formula One car racing - this is the new way of triathlon."
NEXT STOP: TONGYEONG IN SOUTH KOREA, 2-3 MAY FOR THE FIRST RACE OF THE NEW WORLD SERIES.
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