| Dec |
Courtney on the cover of Dec TRIATHLON & MULTISPORT MAGAZINE
Click image to see full size
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Nov |
Personal note from Courtney: Finally the year of the Beijing Olympics has come to an end! I am just hanging to have a holiday :) Was an awesome way to finish up the year with a big win at Noosa. Added to the memorable experience of becoming an Australian Olympian and the 2 x Australian Championships I won at the beginning of 2008, I won't forget the year in a hurry. Some big thankyou's to send out; firstly to my awesome backers. Redbull and Orca for continuing to believe in my abilities. FedExpress for providing me with the opportunity to focus 110% of my energies on performing at the Olympics (plus providing some memorable events along the way - more on my golf swing later!) Shaun Stephens - many people wouldn't know who I turn to regarding my triathlon when in crisis. Shaun has been my Devils Advocate for many years now, and leading up to the games was no exception. He listens to me complain about a lot of s*i!. One of my highlights of the Olympics was seeing him train Emma Moffat to an Olympic Bronze medal. You wouldn't believe the time and sacrifices that triathlon coaches make for their athletes. Good luck to all the Aussie triathletes competing in events over the Australian summer. Triathlon is a great sport so enjoy every minute of it - pain and all! One last big thankyou for all the support and good lucks for the Olympics this year. See you all again for 2009. Courtney |
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Interview Post-Race Noosa: (from
www.firstoffthebike.com) Courtney Atkinson was pretty pleased with his efforts on that magical Sunday. Courtney talks about his history with the race and times that he has enjoyed in Noosa both as an athlete and as a young kid goofing off with his mates. Courtney also shares his views on the new ITU super series and how this will create the series that he has always wanted. Courtney looks a lot happier and why wouldn't he? He knows he is back on track after his Beijing disappointment.
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Nov 3rd |
Breaking News:
ATKINSON WINS
NOOSA TRIATHLON
Courtney Atkinson has for the first time won Australia's most
prestigious triathlon at Noosa clocking the fastest time in the last
5 years. Largely unchallenged, Atkinson went past Josh Amberger early on the bike leg and powering away to win the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run event in 1hr 46:min 38sec.
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Oct 31st |
Atkinson
bounces back
By John Salvado AAP
November 01, 2008 WITH the initial disappointment of finishing 11th
at the Beijing Olympics well behind him, Australian Courtney Atkinson
is eyeing a first victory in the Noosa Triathlon and the accompanying
ego boost. CLICK - HERE - TO READ COMPLETE ARTICLE
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Oct 7th |
Just got back in to Australia this morning from a quick 4 day trip to and from the USA. Think I was actually traveling more than the time I was on USA soil. Raced in the final race of the Life Time Fitness series, The Dallas Open Triathlon in Texas late Sunday night Australia time. Came in 5th in my first only non-drafting triathlon this year. Paced very well leading and with the leaders up to the run where I slowed. Running to the finish line at 1:30am (Aust time) I think my body had started to go to sleep. Though this has been my best effort in the USA when traveling straight from Australia to a race, so pretty happy with the result. For those in the know the results were....Greg Bennet (AUS), Andy Potts (USA), Stuart Hayes (UK), Andres Realert (GER) then me :) Next on the agenda is the Noosa Triathlon on the 2nd November. This has been the race that has kept me training after the Olympic Games. So the weekend was a great wake-up call as to what to expect in a non-drafting race. But before thinking about that.....off to take my daughter to gymnastics play group this morning....first thing she told me as I walked through the door off the plane at 7am this morning....
Be in touch
Courtney
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Aug |
Hi from Beijing, Hopefully most of you got to watch the Triathlon on TV or have at least got to see highlights from the race. A hard earned 11th is what I have come away with. I was dreaming of Gold and hoping for a medal, but as much as feel a small bit of disappointment with the result I am also very proud to have still performed well enough to earn my right to be an Olympian. I did everything right during the race, and gave myself every opportunity to be at the front. In the end I just didn't have the legs to carry me through the 10km with the leaders. I can help but look back at my total preparation for the games and to think of all the exciting times where I have reached certain small goals and improved. I went into the games knowing that I was in great shape and was happy with my preparation so there is nothing that I can be too negative about! Anyway enough of the race. Now the real fun begins. I am staying in the village and going to the closing ceremony (look for me on TV). The village is everything that I expected it to be. Lots of people watching the dining hall, great Australian Team and a place where everyone you pass has the same ideals as me....living life to reach their best possible performance, no matter what age, shape or sport. Finally for all the support and well wishes for the race. Thank you :) You have also made my Olympic experience a memorable one so far. All the best.....Courtney |
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July-Aug |
Recent Multimedia: VIDEO - Courtney Atkinson: Consistency - THE AGE REDBULL WEBSITE - OPERATION OLYMPICS ABC RADIO INTERVIEW - PRE BEIJING 2008 |
| July 25th |
Latest Newsletter from Courtney |
| July 15th |
Update: Courtney wins the OSIM Singapore International Triathlon Link to full article related to image (left)
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| July 10th |
Below is the second installment of Courtney's Olympic Diary written for "The Orca Blog" It’s only about five weeks to go now to the Games Triathlon. I am getting down to the business end of the preparation and starting to realise that the big day is fast approaching. Trying to keep my mind on the day to day training, but I won’t lie….every so often I catch myself dreaming of being in Beijing. This week on the 7th of July I was finally officially confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee as a member of the Australian Olympic Games Team. We have a fresh team of 5 who are all first time Olympians. The last few weeks have been real guts of the buildup. I have still been doing a lot of high volume work, and also started adding some quality in as well. I know this mind sound a little vague, but training is going to plan at this stage. I have competed in a couple of running races over the past few weeks at the 10km distance. Although not having the freshest legs when competing, the races have proved the hardest of training sessions. The first 10km I ran wasn’t really planned. A few days before a smaller local 10km fun run I thought it would be a good change from my normal long run and be a good start to do a solid tempo run over the distance. Wasn’t I wrong! Steve Moneghetti, probably Australia’s most famous distance runner turned up for a run as well and my tempo run turned into an all out painful 10km. Perfect! Trust me although Moneghetti is retired now and in his 40’s don’t let anyone tell you he can’t run...I was an easy beat for him still. By the way he is commentating the run leg of the triathlon for Australian TV at the games as well. This weekend I am heading up to the Singapore ITU Continental Cup race for pre-Olympic hit out. It should be pretty low key event for me to test how I am going, but more importantly weather looks likely to be very humid and in low 30’s which is most important to expose myself to racing in these Asian type conditions that we will expect in Beijing. There are a number of talented young Australians racing as well, so I might not have things all my own way. Let you know all about it in my next diary Until then train hard Courtney |
| June |
Below is the first installment of Courtney's Olympic Diary written for "The Orca Blog" The Olympics is something very special… The realization of becoming an Olympian is kicking in more and more as August approaches. The difference between being a world class triathlete and an Olympic Triathlete (especially here in Australia) is that suddenly everyone wants to know…what you are doing?...How you are feeling?.....what’s the pollution like? Are you going to stay in the village?....you get the point. The event captures the imagination of the ordinary person who between that four year period couldn’t care less what a triathlon was. It’s only going to get more exiting as August the 19th (race day) approaches. 11 weeks out from the Men’s race my training is all moving along to plan. The last few weeks have been some very big endurance miles….I have seen a lot of the road and black line in the pool and somewhat less of my daughter, wife and TV than I am used too. I have been backing up two long endurance days in a row every 5 days or so where the first day I ride long…around 130km with 3 or so steady climbs, then next day run long in the hills at the state forest for anywhere between 1.5-2 hours. Add swimming and some recovery sessions together in these days and I have been slowly getting very fit. I have chosen to base myself at home on the Gold Coast, Australia for my entire buildup to the games. This means I will be a little light on the racing front, but I believes gives myself the best chance to do consistent good quality training without interruption. I followed a similar plan last year in the lead up to the Olympic Test event ITU World Cup in Beijing and it worked out well (placed 2nd and gained selection for Olympic Team) so I am confident in my preparation. Over the coming weeks I will start to train a bit more specifically for Beijing. This will include a weekly training critirium, a few of the Australian road running races, some hard brick sessions all leading up to using the Singapore Triathlon as a lead-up race for the games about 6 weeks out. Until next update…keep training…Courtney |
| 16th Apr |
Australian Olympians named (April 16, 2008 ) Triathlon Australia has today announced the six athletes
who have been chosen as part of the Nomination Team for Triathlon for Australia for the 2008 Olympic Games......read
full release |
| Feb |
Courtney on the cover of February's TRIATHLON & MULTISPORT MAGAZINE
Click image to see full size
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27 Feb |
Here are a few snap shots from my visit to the Sydney FEDEX offices last week and FedEx Sports Trivia night function at the Imax Cinemas overlooking Darling Harbor. Although my table didn't quiet win the night we had a great evening. Also thank you to all the staff who came to hear me talk at the offices. Will be hoping you all cheer through the TV's when I am racing at the games come August! Thanks Courtney - photos - |
| Feb |
Courtney on the cover of February's AUSTRALIAN TRIATHLETE MAGAZINE
Click image to see full size
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7th Feb |
Courtney today made it two wins from two starts in 2008 by winning the AUSTRALIAN SPRINT DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS in Hobart in a tight fought battle with younger Dan Wilson (QLD).
This makes the third time in Courtney's Career that he has won both Australian Titles in a single year!
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| 3rd Feb |
Atkinson crowned 2008 AUSTRALIAN TRIATHLON CHAMPION |
| 1st Feb |
Atkinson heads west for the 2008 Australian Triathlon Championships. For full Press Release - here - |
| Jan |
EYES ON BEIJING - story written by old competitor and friend Chris Hill for Australian Triathlete Magazine. |
| 19th Jan |
BEIJING BOUND - profile piece from magazine article 19-20 Jan 08 Paradise Magazine. |
| Jan |
Here's a preview of Courtney's latest advert for FedEx's "We Live To Deliver" campaign
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| 1st Jan |
Happy New Year. Bring on 2008!Check back soon for updates and news from Courtney in 08. |
