A young Gold Coast triathlete with a string of national and international titles to his name is confident he can win the 2003 World Triathlon Championships after being accepted as a member Australia’s most successful and innovative sporting team.

Luke McKenzie, who divides his time between the Gold Coast and California, USA, today became a member of the prestigious Body Science (BSC) R& D team.

The team consists of 200 of Australia’s top athletes and teams who receive top nutritional supplementation, dietary and training advice from human performance specialists, as well as marketing support to further their careers.

Luke was accepted into the team after demonstrating exceptional form during his debut season in the USA.

While overseas Luke trained and lived with fellow professional triathletes and BSc Team Members, Craig Alexander and Matthew Clark.

“We worked well as a team and were able to assist one another with both training and racing – vital aspects of success in this sport,” BSc Triathlon Team Manager Nathan Gloag said.

After his successful season in the USA and the support he received from Nathan and Matthew, Luke decided it was time to take the next step in his sporting career and seek further support from experts.

“I knew Craig and Matthew’s strength, endurance and recovery had significantly improved since joining BSc. The products added a new dimension to their training, lifting their racing to another level, so I thought I would try my luck,” Luke said.

“Being accepted into the team will give me an edge over my competitors in Australia and overseas, as I will have access to the top nutritional supplements, the latest research, and reliable training and nutritional advice from BSc’s team of experts.”

Body Science Director Greg Young said Luke was a welcome addition to the team because he embodied the BSc spirit of discipline, perseverance, success and balance.

“We receive hundreds of requests for support every week, and Luke’s stood out because of his obvious commitment to fulfilling his goals in not just sport, but also in other areas of his life,” Greg said.

“As well as pursuing a career as a professional triathlete, Luke is completing an International Business Degree at Griffith University and expects to graduate in 2005.

“He is an impressive young man.”

The 2003 under-23 Australian triathlon champion and five-time Australian world championship team member is currently preparing for the World Triathlon Championships in Queenstown, New Zealand in December this year, and is quietly confident that he can bring home the top prize.

After placing in the top five in six international events this year, this result is easily within his grasp.

Luke thanks BSc for supporting young Australian athletes at all levels.

“Sponsorship is very difficult to obtain these days as there is so much competition for the corporate dollar,” he said.

“I feel very fortunate to have been considered a suitable representative of the BSc brand, and I’ll be doing my best to bring home another world title for the BSc R&D Team.”

Body Science is a Gold Coast-based nutritional supplement company committed to researching developing and testing products that allow consumers to achieve peak physical and mental performance.

Gold Coast team members include:

·         Ky Hurst - one of the country’s most successful Ironmen.

·         Melissa Godfrey - world amateur kickboxing champion.

·         Trudy Todd - professional surfer.

·         Gold Coast Breakers Rugby Union Club.

·         Craig Rogers - Australian sprint canoe champion.

·         Shanon Zunker - Queensland’s number one beach volleyball player.

·         Craig Alexander, Luke McKenzie, Matt Clark and Felicity Abram – Professional triathletes.

Other well-known team members include 2002 NRL Premier and 2003 runner-up, the Sydney Roosters, and the league’s most improved team, the Canberra Raiders, which finished fourth this season.

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview/photograph:

Laura Clements

PR Manager

Body Science

Tel: 0418 572 528

Backgrounder

Luke McKenzie

Date of birth

: July 26, 1981

Location: Queensland, Australia and California, USA

Education: Completing International Business Degree at Griffith University, Queensland

Career highlights:

• Five-time Australian World Championship Team Member

USA (2003)

• 1^st - Dairyland Half Ironman, Wisconsin
• 1^st - Carlsbad Triathlon, California
• 2^nd - Newport Beach Triathlon, California
• 4^th - San Diego International Triathlon, California
• 5^th - Los Angeles Triathlon, California
• 5^th - Pacific Grove Triathlon, California
• 9^th- ITU International Triathlon Newport Beach, California
• 18^th - ITU World Cup, New York

PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

• 2^nd22^nd- 2002 Gold Coast City Half Ironman
• 2nd - 2002 Italian Triathlon Championships
• 3^rd - 2002 Hainan Discovery Triathlon, Sanya, China
• 5^th - 2002 Noosa Triathlon
• 6^th - 2001 London International Triathlon
• 6^th - 2001 Noumea International Triathlon
• 11^th - 2003 Triathlon Australia Accenture Series (five-race series)

Junior & U/23 Highlights

• 2003 Australian U/23 Champion
• 2000 Sydney Youth Olympics Champion
• 3rd 2001 ITU World Junior Championship

Goals (2003/2004):

• 1^st - World Triathlon Championships
• Australian Olympic team selection for 2004 Games in Athens, Greece
• 1^st in under-23 and top-five finish (professional) - Australian Triathlon Championships.
• Top five finish – St Petersburg, St. Croix, California (Half-Ironman), Alcatraz, San Diego, Cleveland, Dairylands (Half-Ironman), Boulder Peak, Chicago, Los Angles, Pacific Grove (Professional)