Brad Kahlefeldt, going for gold
Having already had his ticked stamped for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Brad Kahlefeldt is now looking forward to make this ticket golden. We wanted to find out more about this young Australian ITU triathlete.
ST: Brad, you had a great year in 2007 , can you talk a bit about your season?
Brad: I had a good start to the season with a win at the Aussie champs then had a win in the first round of the world cup series on home soil. I then went over to Lisbon had another solid podium result. June was an unlucky month, I went down to Madrid in great shape and an athlete crashed in front of me and I was positioned directly behind him and I went over the bars. I then went to Des Moines and got food poising along with 4 others. I was sick for 5 days and lost a fair amount of weight and did not finish. I then back up to the Pyrenees and trained hard for the World Champs. Hamburg had such a great atmosphere and was one of the high lights for the year.
ST: The big focus moving forward has got to be the Olympics, is that right?
Brad: Everything this year is geared towards Beijing. I am starting my intensity a little later this year and will cut the race schedule down a little. I am looking forward to representing Australia in my first Olympics.
ST: What else is on schedule for you in 2008?
Brad: I will start the season off with an ITU race at home on the Gold Coast then up to the Mooloolaba World Cup, over to New Plymouth then over to Europe to prepare for World Champs then back to the Pyrenees to prepare for Beijing.
ST: What does a typical mid season workout week look like for you?
Brad: It depends on whether there is a race on the weekend or if I have just competed that weekend. But I will get out around 25k swimming, 350k riding and about 80k running. All have quite a lot of intensity.
ST: Do you have any specific training partners?
Brad: I have my training group on the Gold Coast. It is a great bunch and we have a lot of fun. Overseas it depends on where I am training. Most of the time we are in camp so I have my usual guys I head out with. I enjoy training with others. I also enjoy doing some of the recovery session alone.
ST: Tell us a little bit about how you spend the off-season.
Brad: Well after my last race of the season, which is usually around late September, I head home via US or Asia for a short break. I usually have about 6 weeks off. Usually I only train lightly every second day. Just really easy just to keep things under control. Just makes things easier to get back into the training without the problems or injuries.
I enjoy holidays and going out with mates. Basically I do all the things I can’t do when I am in full training.
ST: What sports did you participate in when you were younger?
Brad: I tried everything and I am a typical Aussie bloke. I used to play Aussie rules football, cricket, basketball, rugby etc. I loved it all, but had to decide whether I wanted to continue with running or triathlons.
ST: Have you had help with your bike fit?
Brad: Yes, Brian Mclean at Australian Institute of Sport, AIS.
ST: How are things going for you in terms of sponsorship?
Brad: I have some of the best sponsors and have great support from all of them and would be very hard to do what I do every year: Giant, Professional Investment Services, Asics, Sidi, SRAM, Oakley, Mavic, AIS and Paris Racing club.
ST: How many bikes might we find at your house if we came by and looked? And what are they in terms of brand and model?
Brad: You would find about 6 or 7 mostly all mine and mostly all Giant. I like to keep my bikes I had an important win on. U23 Worlds, Commonwealth Games etc.
ST: Can you tell us about your family?
Brad: I came from a large family and grew up in Wagga Wagga. 6 kids all up. Parents are both marathon runners. Mum kicks dad’s butt. He just runs with his mates at the back of the pack and has a good time. My brothers play Aussie rules football. They are naturally skinny like me so they had to spend many hours in the gym getting buffed and eating meat pies.
ST: Do you follow any other sports?
Brad: I love to follow athletics and I love Aussie rules football as well.
ST: Can you share with us some of your food likes and dislikes?
Brad: I love ice cream, cheesecake and a good steak and many other food items. I don’t like seafood and eggs.
ST: What about music? Anything you listen to more often?
Brad: I like a wide variety of music. Love the killers.
ST: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Brad: 5 years from now I'm pretty sure I will be still competing. If not I will have a "real" job. I would like to stay in the sport so a coaching role would be great.
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Brad: I once chopped half my thumb off when it got caught between my sister’s bike chain and the rear sprockets on my sister’s bike. I had to tape it up and use a condom over the tape when I went swimming training…
