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View Subscription OffersBega District News' complete view of propertyHome/News/Latest NewsMaddie Gordon's world top 10 finish at championshipsBy Jacob McMasterUpdated November 5 2015 -

2:42pm, first published 2:36pmBy Jacob McMasterUpdated November 5 2015 - 2:42pm, first published 2:36pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyMaddie Gordon with her racing bike on a section of the

world championship track in Adelaide recently. The Sapphire Coast Anglican College hadn't even heard of Maddie Gordon's athletic ability until she qualified for the duathlon world

championships recently.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperAll other regional websites in your areaContinue So the school, and her friends, were understanably excited

when she was awarded eighth in her age group and ranked among the top 10 in the world.

Maddie, 17, is keenly focused on her schooling so kept it fairly quiet that she was competing in regional and state events recently until she finished second in the ACT championship.

Duathlons, as opposed to biathlons, still contain three sections, but two segments are runs with a cycle leg in between and no swim.

Maddie said she had regularly competed in triathlons, but performed better in duathlons and felt her swimming prowess was the weakest of the three disciplines.

"I've competed in all three and duathlons aren't my favourite, but it is what I am best at," she said with a laugh.

Soon to be in Year 12, Maddie said she wanted to focus on her HSC and nearly didn't nominate herself, but egged on by her coach took the plunge.

"In terms of starting, it was a big issue - I knew the workload would be pretty tough with school and training, but my parents were quite supportive about it," Maddie said.

"I was pretty shocked to qualify, my coach said it was worth a go to nominate, but I was surprised - and really happy."

Despite a lifetime of competition experience, nothing could quite prepare the young Bega woman for how different a world championship would be.

"I was quite terrified that I was going to be dead last," Maddie said with a laugh.

But there was a moment of clarity when she realised, not only was she not last, but actually competing strongly.

It came during the opening run, normally the most daunting part of the course for the starlet.

"The first run always scares me, once you get into it, it's okay, but I definitely find that the hardest bit." she said.

"It's usually my weakest section, but I got ahead of a bunch of people and held onto it through the ride."

Maddie stayed humble about her success, but her time speaks for itself, clocking in a 7.5km run and 20km bike ride in one hour, 11 minutes and 24 seconds.

Her first run was a personal best, but as a whole she's beaten the time before.

So you could be forgiven for thinking this rising young star had professional aspirations.

She doesn't, at least not yet.

"I'm going into year 12 so I want to focus on HSC and then maybe get back into it." she said.

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