ALPHA FEMALE

racing form Back after a season’s break, top Aussie triathlete FELICITY ABRAM is looking even better than ever PHOTOGRAPHY WAYNE DANIELS he name Felicity Abrams (or “Fliss”, as she prefers) may not be the first top Aussie triathlete on everyone’s lips – try Emma Snowsill or for that – and there’s one good reason. With three spots available on the Olympic team, it was Erin Densham who squeaked on, and Fliss sat at home watching. Trouble is, it was Fliss who was by then world No.1. T“All selection is political, in any sport, and ours was all discretion,” she says now. “I had better performances than Erin. My coach said he thought I was in, but they changed their minds.” For someone who had aimed at the Olympics since the age

66

FELICITY ABRAM

of six, this was a huge blow. Fliss says she cried “for about an hour”, then decided to channel her anger. “I had a week off, and then went straight back into lack lack

racing World Cups for the rest of the year. I wanted to b prove a point – I wanted to be the No.1 athlete leading (www.

into the Olympics. I did that, so I was quite happy.” hs The setback was the first for the young (still only 23),

talented Brisbanite, who had been on a fast upward track. couture juicy ); own. She won the World Junior Championships at 17, was s el sixth in her first elite World Championships in 2005 d mo

at 18, and followed up with bronze the following year. s 02 8306 3385 8306 02 eel o ( o

The trauma and effort of 2008 behind her, Fliss took h d most of this season off. “I wanted to take a break, get Bat Hill Spring location: y Spee y

myself refocused and ready for London (Olympics b 2012). If there was any year to do it this was it.” ikini ikini Now back in full training, she barely had time for b wimwear.com); wimwear.com); s t

Alpha’s shoot (or a s e Slim fit: Abrams at relationship – Fliss b the 2006 Comm complains about page: Zig Zag Zag Zig page: Games, . being single), but was s happy to find some.

“It was a fun day. It’s (www.gcphotoagency.com). gency A ing previou ing h weird, I do shoots (www. Swimwear ie h hoto hoto

in running gear, itc P

R e. clot e. C y y s

but you put me in a b & a C bikini and I actually G ikini ikini feel more comfort- b able. It’s ’cos I run page: page: s i

around half-naked h in races. There’s t ).

not much of it.” Dana makeup: & air h . . 1800 199 662 199 1800 y Zu ( Zu y b 1300 733 053) 733 1300 ie ie h itc R

ss i M

s oe wimming.com, wimming.com, s sh ikini; ikini; b photography: getty images (action). shoot production: production: shoot (action). images getty photography: rackley

“Put me in a bikini and I actually feel more comfortable.”

Felicity Abram answers three irrelevent questions. YouTube “Felicity Abram” Focus on Abram in the Mooloolaba triathlon. YouTube “Fliss Abram Mooloolaba”

68