By Peter Howe<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s Don Deeble nominee Nicola Morris decided when Covid hit that she would like to participate in triathlons.<\/p>\n
Not having any real experience on a bike apart from riding around on her mountain bike, her family went looking for options. <\/p>\n
\u201cBrunswick Cycling Club had come and try junior clinic on a Sunday morning, so I went and loved it,\u201d reflected Morris who already loved swimming and running.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2022 my mum entered me into my first race which was Alpe De Buffalo which consisted of three races, a time trial, criterium and road race up Mount Buffalo as part of the Victorian Junior Road Series, it was so much fun.\u201d <\/p>\n
Her passion for the sport grew from there. <\/p>\n
Next was the Victorian Junior Track Academy at the Darebin International Sports Complex velodrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe velodrome track is very steep, so it was fair to say I spent my early learning at the bottom of the slope, but I have gradually become more confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not to be deterred, another discipline of cycling was offered to Morris and she tried Cyclocross, which is a form of off-road racing that combines elements of road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase. <\/p>\n
Like a duck to water, Morris took first place in the 2022 Victorian State Cyclocross Championship under-15 women and went on to finish second in the Australian Championships. <\/p>\n
She won gold at the Australian Championships the next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love the challenge that cycling provides,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to push yourself because it is you against the field, but I also like to challenge others. I have two older brothers who are also into sport, and we like to boast about who\u2019s the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Triathlons were not put on hold despite her growing love affair with cycling. <\/p>\n
Morris is in the swimming pool at 5.30am twice a week, she spends up to three hours per week on her stationary bike.<\/p>\n
She also travels to Torquay once a week to do a core and leg session and she does one other weight session a week.<\/p>\n
One of her favourite sessions is riding behind an old postie motorbike ridden by one of her favourite coaches, Cam McFarlane. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe is known by most as Postie Cam and has had a positive impact on so many bike riders over the years.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s then a three hour riding session on Sundays.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the friendships that you make that keeps bringing you back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Morris was recently selected for the under-17 Australian track development team that went to Malaysia to train and compete in the YSD Track Series. <\/p>\n
\u201cI soon got sick of the huge rice bowl and chicken wings we got every day for lunch, but otherwise it was an amazing experience and opportunity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Morris is starting to collect an array of medals.<\/p>\n
In 2024 she won gold in the under-15 girls points race at the National Championships, along with three other medals.<\/p>\n
She finished second in the National Road race and first in the National Cyclocross Championships. <\/p>\n
In 2024 she was named the AusCycling Victorian women\u2019s junior track rider of the year.<\/p>\n
This year at an under-17 competitor Morris won three bronze medals at the Victorian Track State Championships, represented Victoria at the National Track Championships and finished second in the National Gravel Championships.<\/p>\n
Morris has also just recently been selected to race in the New Zealand 2025 Yunca Junior Tour of Southland in September as part of the AusCycling Junior Pathways Program and has been offered a position with the AusCycling Victorian Road Development Academy.<\/p>\n
Morris is inspired by Olympic gold medallist Grace Brown, Australian professional and Brunswick Cycling Club\u2019s Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dream is to one day be selected to represent my country at the elite level, to finish on the podium and to be the best I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Don\u202fDeeble\u202fSports Star Award is sponsored by the\u202fYarraville\u202fClub Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and Star Weekly Newspapers. <\/p>\n