For HK triathletes, 'outcome takes care of itself'
With the 19th Asian Games merely a month away, Hong Kong triathletes taking part in the competition said building trust among themselves and executing the game plan – rather than setting their sights on a medal – will be key to their success. The SAR's team of six triathletes are entering the final stages of their preparation – a process that has seen them spend time in Spain and will take them to Thailand, before heading to Hangzhou. Hong Kong will be hoping for more success in the triathlon, having clinched a silver medal in the mixed relay at the 2022 Asia Triathlon Championships in Kazakhstan and the bronze medal in the same event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Included in this year's squad is 23-year-old Bailee Brown, who was in the relay team that took third place five years ago. "It is one of the best experiences I've had in my short triathlon career," said Brown. "I still think about it sometimes even now and it is just such a good feeling." But the team are not setting themselves goals based on medal places, focusing rather on the small, day-to-day details that will hopefully come together to provide the opportunity for success.  "In terms of positioning and finishing the race, you can't really give yourself a number. But we're always striving to control our controllables," said Brown. It is a mantra that has obviously been instilled in the team by head coach, Andrew Wright. "At the end of the day, the result takes care of itself," Wright said. "The only thing you're really in control of are your skills and your effort levels." "Each athlete will have a race plan. Those plans are about executing skills and intensities within the race, and just being able to react to whatever happens. Then essentially the outcome takes care of itself." The upcoming training camp in Thailand is intended to eliminate as many distractions as possible, putting the focus on Hangzhou alone and building trust among the team members.  "The team aspect is really about trusting each other and trusting that each athlete in that relay leg will do the best they can," said Brown.  "So going into these training camps, being able to be around each other all the time, it can drive you a little bit crazy, but you can really see how everyone is working."