Queensland triathlete making history and inspiring a new generation

For world triathlete champion Matthew Hauser, a weekly regime of running, riding and swimming hundreds of kilometres is par for the course when there are two Olympic games in sight. 

“[I am] running around 80 kilometres a week, riding 300 to 350 kilometres a week and then swimming about 20 to 25 kilometres in the pool,” he said.  

“It’s certainly all-encompassing but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

In October, Hauser was the first Australian in 20 years to take out the World Triathlon Championship Series title in Wollongong.  

He backed that up a month later taking out the Noosa Triathlon. 

Hauser’s wins this year come after multiple achievements and accolades on home soil and internationally over the last 15 years. 

But at his seaside hometown in Hervey Bay, three hours north of Brisbane, junior athletes look up to Hauser’s success as a shining beacon of what they could achieve. 

But despite a full-time training schedule and long-term goals to qualify for the Los Angeles and Brisbane Olympics, the 27-year-old is only too willing to give back to the community where it all began. 

Humble beginnings 

Hauser’s triathlete journey began in 2010 at school cross-country and athletics carnivals. 

His life changed when Brian Harrington, the former Queensland school sport triathlon coach, noticed him.  

“He needed me for a school triathlon relay [and] obviously being a bit of a decent runner he knew that I’d be able to help the team in that way,” Hauser said. 

Mr Harrington said Hauser’s drive made him stand out amongst his peers. 

“He’s a very good listener … he’s smart to say, ‘Okay I’ve got a weakness [and] I’ve gotta work on it’,” he said.  

Hauser worked with his two coaches to improve his abilities in cycling, swimming and running.  

Mr Harrington said the training schedule for a young triathlete can be a challenge.  

“We probably trained with 10 sessions a week … three bikes, three runs and maybe another session either a bike, run or transition training,” he said.  

After not achieving his target goal at the 2016 Junior World Triathlon Championship Series in Mexico, Hauser said he spent the rest of the year confronting bad patterns. 

“Probably was a bit too complacent and probably didn’t prepare well … I learned a lot from that and went back to the drawing board,” he said.  

He acknowledged those lessons led to him taking the 2017 Junior World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) title in the Netherlands the following year, aged 19. 

World champion 

Hauser was forced to take a break in 2018 after he was involved in a bicycle crash that left him with a dislocated shoulder and a broken hand.  

It was one of several situations which forced him to re-evaluate his future. 

“From then on I knew I needed to step it up a level in my professionalism and make sure my preparation was key,” he said.  

While Hauser has made incredible strides in his career, a highlight was winning the WTCS title on home soil.  

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“The opportunity is rare just to race our home world championships and then having the opportunity to compete for the gold medal is also really special,” he said.  

Hauser also holds the dual title for world individual champion and world mixed relay champion.  

He said the rare accomplishment wouldn’t be possible without his teammates.  

“It is something really special and this historic moment [is] for not only myself but for Aus triathlon,” he said.  

Olympic glory 

Going into 2026, Hauser’s training to defend his WTCS title and chase “that bright North Star” — the Olympics. 

After competing in Tokyo and Paris he’s hoping to earn a position on the team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

The 27-year-old said the qualifiers were expected to begin in the first half of next year and athletes were required to gain points to secure one of four spots for Australia’s relay team.

Athletes need to accumulate points based on the events they compete in on the world circuit and their final position in each race. 

But the allure of competing as a triathlete in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics is the ultimate dream, Hauser said.  

“To have it just down the road in Brisbane … between where I grew up and where I’m now based … it’s a really special occasion I wanna be a part of,” he said.  

Giving back 

Away from training at the Gold Coast, where he now lives with his partner, Hauser travels the 350 kilometres north to return to the community which helped him as a junior. 

“To be able to cut time out, to come back home … [and] to get out and about and inspire our juniors is really special to us,” recent Hervey Bay Triathlon Club president Paul Smith said.  

At the club, Hauser helps coach the kids to improve their abilities and shares life lessons from more than 10 years in competitive sport.  

The 27-year-old can also be found sharing his passion for triathlons at schools in the seaside town.  

Mr Smith said club enrolments have increased by about 15 per cent since 2023.  

He believed Hauser’s success was a driving factor in the growth.  

“When somebody’s seen on the world stage … and a good old fashioned Australian [is] achieving people get a kick out of that,” he said. 

But for those hoping to have a long sporting career, Hauser said a strong support network was vital.  

“Just surround yourself with people that love it and are in the journey for the right reasons,” he said.