Oscar Wootton and Aspen Anderson are set to don the green and gold for the triathlon at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Competing in the men’s and women’s event respectively, the duo will also come together and compete in the Mixed Relay Triathlon as they make their Australian debuts.

The pair booked their tickets to Tobago with impressive performances at the Australian Junior Championships held in Port Adelaide in April,  both securing automatic-nominations to the Commonwealth Youth Games team in the process.

Wootton noted the privilege in being selected to the team, recognising the opportunity that it provides for his continued development as an athlete.

“It’s a great privilege. I’ve grown up watching people in the under 23s and elites go through the same process, so it’s exciting to know I’m on the same path,” Wootton said.

“To compete for Australia is always something I’ve wanted to do.

“I’ve only been overseas once, so getting to see a new part of the world, so understanding how to travel and race under different conditions than Australia is something I’m looking forward to.”

Anderson echoed Wootton, confirming she is incredibly excited to represent Australia on the world stage.

“Representing Australia was definitely something I was working towards. I didn’t know it would be the Commonwealth Youth Games, so that was exciting,” Anderson said.

“There’s been a lot of hard work put into this. “I’m quite excited to go overseas. This will be my first time travelling with team."

Hailing from the Ballarat Triathlon Club in Victoria, Wootton has shown great maturity and performance focused behaviours in his short time in the sport. His broad skillset ranges across swim and run but is galvanised by a strong technical ability on the bike.

Gold Coast-based Anderson is well known for her running prowess, holding her own with the countries best single discipline athletes. Complemented by her mental strength, her background in Surf Lifesaving and as a formidable criterium racer she is usually well set-up to let loose out of T2.

Triathlon Australia’s National Talent Development Coach, Brendan Sexton congratulated the two athletes, noting the opportunities that participating in the Games provides for an athlete's development.

“Junior Australian athletes rarely get the chance to compete against their international peers so an opportunity like this will allow Oscar and Aspen to experience a competition pool wider and deeper than they have before,” Sexton said.

“To prepare, travel, watch, celebrate and share a multi-event experience with athletes from many other sports and many other nationalities is usually only experienced at the pointy end of an athlete’s career.

“To be able to be immersed in a trip like this at such a young age not only provides athletes with valuable knowledge and tools for later in their athletic life but the friends and memories made will be unique.”