MATT CLARKE

Matt's Website

DATE OF BIRTH: 27th March 1980

BORN: Sydney,Australia

LIVES: Cronulla,NSW

NICKNAME: Clarky

MARTIAL STATUS: Single

HEIGHT: 177CM

WEIGHT: 70KG

EDUCATION: High school certifcate(1997) / Currently studying personal training qualfications

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

1st-US Sprint Champs,Newport Beach CA 2001
2nd-San Diego International Triathlon,San Diego CA 2002
4th-ITU World Championships,Montreal Canada (juniors16-19yrs) 1999

FUTURE GOALS IN TRIATHLON:

Win an ironman
Win Australian Long Course Champs
Top 15 Hawaiian Ironman

YEARS IN SPORT: 10YRS (1996)

COACH: Grant Giles (Aeromax coaching)

TRAINING PARTNERS: Craig Aleaxander, Jarrad Adams, Brad White, Luke McKenzie (when OS)

HOW I SPEND MY DOWNTIME: Head to the movies,relax at Daruk park (favourite
Cronulla beach) and having coffee.

FAVOURITE TRIATHLON/S: Escape from Alcatraz and Wildflower Half Ironman

MOTTO TO LIVE BY: Always look at the glass as half full,not half empty.

BIO

Matthew was born in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney, NSW on the 27th March 1980. Growing up he tried an array of sports including soccer, cricket, rugby league, tennis and surf lifesaving. But it wasn't until at the age of 15 he made a bet with a mate to take part in a junior triathlon that Matt discovered his true passion. After his first taste of triathlon at Ramsgate Beach in sydney's south he was hooked!

Consistent results in the National series followed and in 1999 Matthew represented Australia at the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Montreal, Canada in the junior(16-19yr division). He finished a solid 4th after a sprint finish for third place. It was only then that Clark realised he had a future in the sport of triathlon. In his last year in Juniors he took out the NSW Open Junior Title in Nowra on the south coast of NSW.

In 2001 Clarky took the big gamble of heading OS shunning the typical genre of rising aussie triathlon talents to follow the ITU drafting races to race on triathlons toughest stage-The Amercian non drafting circuit. Clark would now be competing in such famous races as Escape from Alcatraz, Wildflower and Chicago triathlons. In his first year as a pro and against much older and more experienced competitors he won the 2001 US Sprint Champs in Newport Beach, CA. Over the next few years he honed his skills and stepped up in distances from Olympic distance triathlon to half ironman triathlon gaining a reputation as a strong swim/biker.

Aeromax coaching
Endeavour Cycles

MATT CLARKE @ VINEMAN HALF IRONMAN (USA) REPORT

Well i just returned from San Francisco where i was based for the week in the lead up to the Vineman 70.3 Half Ironman in Santa Rosa,CA.My training in the lead up to the race had been great and the heavy legs of a week ago at Boulder Peak had gone after a rested taper and i was ready to go on race day.

The half ironman field of the year had decended on the swim start of Vineman at the very early time of 6:25am.Five time world champ Simon Lessing,two time Hawaiian ironman champ Tim Deboom and in form Chris Legh to name a few but i felt confident of a solid race,my last hitout before the big one-Ironman Canada on the 27th August.

I positioned myself well in the swim and exited third with Lessing and french triathlete Rob De Nalan ahead.I made a quick jump onto the bike and into the early morning fog of Santa Rosa.I tried to be aggressive in the opening stages of the bike opening up a small gap in the first 15k to the chasing pack of six that contained all the major players.We came together shortly after and our group of seven rode through the vineyards of Napa at a solid pace.

From there on in i tried to conserve as i knew my competiton in this group-Lessing,Deboom,Cam Widoff were all renowned runners.We came in three minutes down on Chris Lieto who hammered past us during the early stages of the bike.I felt strong in the opening kms trying to evenly pace my day knowing in four weeks i would be doing this distance twice over.

At the four mile mark of the run Chris Legh passed me and i knew if i wanted to be part of this race i had to go with him.He was too strong(his run spilt was the fastest of the day 1:12).I went beyond my pacing and even though i ran through the La Creme winery half way point in 38minutes i was to pay in the closing miles.

I went from 7th to 13th in the closing two miles but my fitness in at good levels and with a month to go to IM Canada i feel very excited for the big day at Penticton.

I want to say a big thanks to my homestay Andy who made me feel soo welcome in Mill Valley for the week and also to Chris and Matt for all their help and for showing me around,look forward to seeing you guys soon.

I am now back in Boulder,CO and have two hard weeks of training till my taper.Next time you will here from me i should hopefully have the legs up after a great day in Canada.Till then,

cheers!

Matt.