Quietly Spoken Waikato Student the Latest Triathlon World Champ

New Zealand unearthed another potential triathlon star today in the form of 17 year old Waikato student Mikayla Nielsen as the young Kiwi won World Championship gold in the Elite Junior (U19) women’s race.

Nielsen has only been in the sport for two years but today looked like a seasoned veteran with an impeccable bike leg and imperious run as she rode and then strode through the field on a cold and damp Beijing day.

Nielsen was a little off the pace out of the water in what she readily admits is her weakest discipline, but within one lap on the bike course had not only closed the gap to the leaders but in the process dragged a large group there with her.

It was not a concern however as the former cross country star knew she had the leg speed to outrun the best in the world, even if they had never heard of her before.

“I was just determined to get on the front bunch, stay with them and then leave it all to the run. I was surprised how quickly I got to the lead though, that first hill I just got there so quick and caught on automatically, so yeah, it was awesome.

“I knew there were some fast Aussies out there but wasn’t sure about the others but I knew it was going to be tough. I thought they were going to catch me at the end so I am stoked that I got there first.

And as only an excited and slightly overawed 17 year old could, she tried to put her victory into context.

“It feels so cool, I have to thank Mark Elliott and Stephen (Sheldrake), they have helped me so much, it is awesome.”

The frightening thought for the opposition is that Nielsen only decided at the last minute to make the trip over to Beijing and that having just turned 17; she has an amazing two years left in the Elite Junior category and can look to defend her title on home soil in Auckland next year.

ITU Triathlon World Championship
Elite Junior Women (u19)
1 Mikayla Nielsen NZL  01:03:40
2 Ashlee Bailie AUS  01:03:42
3 Hanna Philippin GER  01:03:47
4 Eszter Pap HUN  01:04:02
5 Kelly Whitley USA  01:04:12
Plus NZers
29 Maddie Dillon NZL  01:08:03
33 Laura Wood NZL  01:08:30

Image: Delly Carr