Newcastle triathlete Aaron Royle toughs it out to earn shot at second Olympic Games

The Novocastrian was announced in Australia's triathlon team on Friday as he continues to finalise his Tokyo preparations from Europe.

Royle, 31, said he was "very excited" to be named having nursed an Achilles injury while racing overseas recently.

"It was a stressful couple of months chasing points for quota spots, trying to perform myself so that I would be selected while nursing an Achilles issue that lingered for far too long. Thankfully it all worked into our favour with the quota spots and I was lucky enough to be selected," Royle told the Newcastle Herald from his training base in the French Pyrenees.

Royle, who feels his Achilles has now "settled down", ended up 30^th in the Olympic rankings when the qualification points window closed last month.

This gave Australia three men inside the top 30. It was the same scenario for the women. Six positions all up and the only country to complete the clean sweep.

However, outside early nominations for Jake Birtwhistle and Ashleigh Gentle, the remaining four positions came down to selector's discretion.

Royle and Matt Hauser got the nod alongside Jaz Hedgeland and Emma Jeffcoat.

"It was definitely a tough team. Triathlon is in a good place when there's people who missed out on the team that could very well be competitive themselves in both the individual and the mixed relay," Royle said.

The individual events take place at the Odaiba Marine Park in Japan on July 26 and 27. The newly introduced mixed relay follows on July 31.

No decision has yet been made about the four athletes who will double up, but Royle would be keen to race on both occasions.

"I would love to be part of the mixed relay. We aren't sure yet of the make up of the team, but if I had an opportunity I would love to be a part of it," he said.

Royle admits last year's Tokyo postponement was "tough, but I never considered walking away".

Having made his Games debut in Rio five years ago, Royle becomes the fourth Aussie male to become a two-time Olympian.

He follows in the footsteps of Peter Robertson (2000, 2004), Courtney Atkinson (2008, 2012) and Brad Kahlefeldt (2008, 2012).

"I'm very excited to be selected for my second Olympics," Royle said.

Maitland triathlete Brendan Sexton went to the London Olympics in 2012.

Royle will relocate to Spain after his current altitude training block.

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