We’re organising a Junior Aquathlon Series. Here’s Why…
If you speak to the coaches at Momentum Triathlon Academy, you will know that we talk a lot about keeping young people in sport and addressing the dropout rates that kick in around 14 years old. We would probably also have said that we believe triathlon can be part of the solution to this problem, and that triathlon can catch young people who fall out of other sports, giving them somewhere to belong.
In 2026, the Momentum Junior Aquathlon Series will be a big part of this work, where we try to put all of that into practice.
How this idea has grown…
In 2024 we organised two small swim-run events at Port Melbourne Beach as pre-season practice for our own athletes, plus a few friends. They were informal, low-key training sessions designed to give our junior squad some race experience before the summer triathlon season began. We found that the athletes who benefited most were the ones who had never raced before, or who had been intimidated by bigger triathlon races. They got the chance to try something in a supportive, participation focused environment and grow in confidence. These little events gave them the confidence to try the next step…
In 2025, we expanded the idea to three events at Sandridge Beach in collaboration with Sandridge Lifesaving Club, whilst keeping the fun, relaxed atmosphere throughout the series. 47 young people took part across the series in what turned out to be one of our favourite initiatives of the year. We saw young athletes grow in confidence, develop open water skills they had forgotten over winter and arrive at the 2XU Triathlon Series in November feeling more prepared. We also saw club members volunteering, parents expressing a real desire to build on this initiative and young athletes from different clubs, schools and squads mixing together in a way that does not always happen in training.
Our Five Reasons for doing this…
When we sat down to think about what we wanted these events to achieve, we kept coming back to the same five things:
Most importantly, we wanted to get young people outside and moving. That might sound simple, but in a world where adolescent screen time is rising and sport participation is falling, we feel these types of opportunity set the tone and matter more than ever.
There is a shortage of participation focused junior-only events in Melbourne. There is plenty of competitive schools based racing in athletics, and cross country. However, if you want to participate rather than focus on performance, these events can feel very pressurised and results driven. We wanted to create something that redressed the balance a little. Outside of school events, our mass participation events are open to all ages, which means young athletes are competing alongside adults. We wanted to offer something that belonged uniquely to young people.
To develop, young athletes need opportunities to learn and practice race skills. These events are the ideal opportunity to practice. Realistic enough to simulate a race but low pressure so you can get things wrong without it being a big deal. It’s half way between training and a goal race.
We firmly believe sport should be fun, at all levels. Sometimes we can lose sight of that, particularly at junior elite level where the pressure to perform can creep in early. These events are deliberately structured around low stress participation and enjoyment rather than times, podiums and comparison.
Cost is a genuine barrier for many students and families. Event registrations tend to be expensive, so we wanted to offer an event option that did not require a significant financial commitment, so that young people could have a fun race experience, regardless of budget.
Who are these events for?
The short answer is any young person between the ages of 10 and 23 who wants to give it a go, but more specifically…
Young athletes who are already training with a club and want pre-season race practice.
Young athletes from schools or universities who have been introduced to triathlon and want to take the next step.
Young people who have done other sports but are curious about triathlon and want a low pressure way to find out whether it suits them.
Young athletes who have raced before but found other events too stressful.
Young people who are looking for a fun, social, active way to spend a couple of hours!
Why it matters beyond the events…
Research shows that sport participation in Australia drops significantly after age 14, particularly for girls. The reasons young people leave sport are well documented: they find it too expensive, too pressured, too focused on selection and hierarchy rather than enjoyment and belonging.
Our Junior Aquathlon Series and Trail Adventures are our own response to that evidence at a grassroots level. We want every young person who comes along to one of these events to have a positive experience, as they are more likely to stay active and stay in sport as a result. Every participant who enjoyed the experience, who makes a friend from another school, who gets outside and does something active, matters not just for triathlon, but for their own long-term health and wellbeing.
We think of these events as a gateway. An Aquathlon is a run-swim-run format, which makes it an ideal stepping stone into triathlon. Any young person who has been part of a swim squad or an athletics club will thrive in these events, whilst most active adolescents will be able to complete these without any issues. Not every athlete who comes participates will go on to race in the 2XU Triathlon Series or become a triathlete, but some will. And those who do not will hopefully leave having had an experience that keeps them connected to sport and to movement in some form. That is exactly the outcome we are after.
The 2026 Junior Aquathlon Series
This year's series takes place across three events at Sandridge Beach on 5th, 15th and 29th November, giving athletes a chance to build on each event as the series progresses. As in previous years, the events are non-timed, low cost ($25) and open to all young athletes between 10 and 23 regardless of experience level.
If you are a young athlete who has been thinking about giving triathlon a go, this is the place to start. If you are a parent of an active young person who needs a reason to get outside and try something new, this is a very good one. Sign up and find out more here.
Want to find out more about MTA?
The Junior Aquathlon Series is one part of what we do at Momentum Triathlon Academy. If you are looking for a junior program in Melbourne that takes the long view on athlete development and genuinely believes that sport is for everyone, we would love to talk. Visit our junior coaching page to find out more.