CONFIDENCE is brewing for former Camperdown triathlete Kurt McDonald.
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The 21-year-old, now a Brisbane native, is setting his sights on world championship selection.
McDonald, who is enjoying a success-laden fortnight, added the Bribie Island Triathlon to his list of achievements on Sunday.
It came just two weeks after his triumph in round two of the Queensland Tri Series at Raby Bay.
McDonald told The Standard belief was flowing as he looked to the next stage of his career.
I've been definitely looking at building a little more run speed and building up my swimming a bit.
- Kurt McDonald
"I've been looking at the under 23 world championships, that's been a big goal for a while," he said.
"I'll look ahead to the Australian and Oceanic triathlon championships in early next year, obviously pending COVID-19.
"It's always nice to break the tape and stand on the top step. It definitely brings me that little bit more confidence for those bigger races coming up in January and February."
McDonald said he'd identified areas of self-improvement in a coronavirus-interrupted season.
"I've been definitely looking at building a little more run speed and building up my swimming a bit. I'll be able to get stuck into that now and hopefully push up at the pointy end," he said.
"I've been able to get more consistency and be up the front pushing hard on the bike but there's always further improvements (to be made).
"Everything was turned on its head with COVID but we managed to get a bit of a mini-season up and running which was good."
McDonald, who was raised in Camperdown before moving to Geelong for university, had a stint in the United States this past year.
He returned to Australia in a bid to be closer to home and is now working as a part of Warwick Dalziel's Triathlon squad in Murarrie.
"Before moving to Brisbane I'd some rough years with injury and illness so it's been good to get back up the front. It's been a big confidence boost," McDonald said.
"When I was looking to come back, Brisbane just looked like the best option. It's much better in that it's only a short flight away from home.
"I'd known my coach as a junior and I just felt like it was a good fit. We've got a great squad and help to push each other. It's very positive."
The Queensland lifestyle is also a bonus.
"It's absolutely perfect up here for triathlon," McDonald said. "You have outdoor swimming all-year-round and the temperature is definitely a little more motivating than at home."
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