Brooke Davis-Goodall is hoping sacrifices will pay off when she lines up against some of the world’s best short course triathletes in New Zealand this weekend.
The Bond University Bachelor of Biomedical Science graduate will represent New Zealand in the Oceania Triathlon Cup on Sunday, the first race as part of a month-long tour across the Ditch.
A schedule clash means Davis-Goodall will miss racing the Olympic distance triathlon as part of the Gold Coast T100 race weekend across March 21-22, an event which will see defending T100 series champion Kate Waugh, 2024 champion Taylor Knibb, and local favourite Ashleigh Gentle do battle.
But the former junior aqua bike world champion has no regrets about her decision, seizing the chance to race the best in her under-23 category.
Race organisers have made the unprecedented decision to combine the junior field with the open elite in Napier, meaning Davis-Goodall will line up alongside Kiwi superstars Ainslee Thorpe and Nicole van der Kaay.
“It’s my debut in the under-23s but they’re merging us with the elite which is really like being thrown in the deep end,” she said.
“I’m extremely nervous as I put a lot of expectation on myself, but I just need to take it all in, learn from the best and get all the experience I can.”
She says the step up to elite competition involves more than training load, with athletes needing to consider marketability.
“The cost of the sport can be quite unjustifiable ... the top-level bikes that everyone strives to be on are upwards of $20,000,” she said.
“You can be the best athlete, but in this day and age, you have to offer something more.