Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist Marc Austin Announces Retirement
Great Britain and Scottish triathlete Marc Austin has been forced to announce his retirement from the sport of triathlon due to a medical condition.
The 26-year-old who took bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia in 2018 represented Great Britain 48 times at an international level from junior through to senior with 15 of those resulting in podium finishes.
Austin was a Silver medallist at both the U23 and Junior World Championships but his most memorable moment in the sport will be the three man break away he was part of with the Brownlee brothers as he competed in front of a roaring home crown in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Triathlon Scotland’s Head of Performance, Fiona Lothian, commented on Austin’s retirement: “Marc’s outstanding bronze medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, achieving Scotlands first medal of the Games and a first ever Scottish medal in triathlon, will go down in history.
“We are saddened that his racing career has been cut short at an early age and he will no longer be able to compete on a World Stage. Marc has already started to support the next generation of Scottish triathletes who are part of the group he trained with in Glasgow.
“We look forward to working with him in this capacity in the future as his enthusiasm and experience are invaluable. We wish him all the best for the future, and we will work with British Triathlon to support him as he transitions into a new phase of his life.”
Rick Velati, British Triathlon Podium Potential Lead Coach, added:
“Marc has been a great member of the team and we are all sad that he has been forced to retire so early into his career. We have worked with his various coaches and key support people since he was a youth athlete and we know his career in triathlon will not stop here.
“Marc has so much to offer our sport and I want to assure him that whatever he decides to do in the future he will always be welcome to work within the sport. Our responsibility is to support Marc through this transition and on behalf of everyone at British Triathlon we are wishing him and those around him well.”
