Dual Olympian and three-time PTO Open winner Ashleigh Gentle is the newest member of the On Triathlon Team.
Gentle, hailing from Brisbane, Queensland, her journey in triathlon began at a young age, with her first representing her native Australia at age 16.
However, she only discovered the sport through a coincidence: “I was a really active child and loved spending time outdoors. I participated in many team sports and also loved running in school carnivals. I particularly loved Cross Country and quickly started to make representative teams. When I started running training with a Triathlon squad, I was quickly intrigued by the other two sports, so thanks to running I found Triathlon.”
Since she entered the realm of swim, bike, run, Gentle has never looked back. In her time as a junior, she won two silver medals and a gold medal at the Junior World Championships before she started racing in the World Triathlon Series in 2011. While racing short course events, she claimed 10 World Series medals, including two wins, and she was selected to participate in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.
After a disappointing outcome in Tokyo, Gentle decided to make the switch to middle-distance racing in 2022. She arrived on the PTO tour with a bang when she claimed the Canadian Open win in Edmonton right out of the gates. Since then, she has claimed two more PTO titles and finished 2022 and 2023 ranked second in the world.
“Ashleigh is one of the fastest bikers and runners of the triathlon circuit at the moment, and we know she has only started to shine in the Half distance,” said Maria Ortega, On Athlete Partnership Manager Triathlon. “With PTO races constantly growing and getting more and more attention, we want to make sure that On has a strong presence in the T100 Triathlon World Tour. We are confident Ash can dominate here and are honored to accompany her on her way.”
When asked about her decision to join On, Ashleigh Gentle shared her enthusiasm for the brand: “I choose On for the global support from a premier running brand, who also makes athletes feel welcome and part of the family. On is innovating incredible products. For example, the Cloudmonster has become my go-to shoe for easy tempo runs, and I’m using the Cloudboom Echo 3 for key workouts where I need a bit more speed. The running shorts have been so great for all workouts and also the gym. I am confident that On will help me get the absolute best out of my running ability.”
On’s cutting-edge technologies and dedication to supporting athletes holistically align seamlessly with Gentle’s pursuit of excellence in triathlon. The partnership is set to elevate both On and Ashleigh Gentle to new heights as they collaborate to push the boundaries of performance in the world of triathlon.
“Ash is a fantastic example of resilience and how you can pivot and still find joy in what you do after dealing with a long period of pressure and setbacks. She will bring inspiration not only to the other athletes in the On Triathlon team but also to the next generations within the Triathlon community”, Ortega said.
