Published December 28, 2010 12:59PM
Irish triathlete Aileen Morrison has made a New Year’s wish to stay injury-free as she sets her sights on qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Just back from a pre-Christmas training break in Portugal, the recently-crowned Vodafone Triathlete of the Year, has her feet firmly on the ground after a 2010 season that saw her shoot up the international rankings, thanks mainly to a podium finish at one of the world’s leading triathlon events.
Morrison was the surprise package at the elite Triathlon ITU World Championship event in Hamburg in July as she finished third, behind world number one Emma Moffat and number three Lisa Norden of Sweden. Her sights are now set on Olympic qualification in 2011.
“Definitely, that third-place finish at the World Championship event in Hamburg would suggest that there is no reason why I cannot compete at the highest level, but it’s far too early to read anything more than that into this,” said Morrison.
“At the end of the day, however, my focus is very clear and next year is essentially about qualifying for the Olympics. I want to secure that by the end of the year and still be fresh enough to peak for the games.”