Pentathlon Carrier seeks Olympic selection
Australian modern pentathlete Marina Carrier is on the cusp of a long-held Olympic dream - but is trying not to think about it.
Carrier will compete at the Asia-Oceania championships on Monday AEDT with a berth at next year's Tokyo Olympics on offer.
To secure Games selection, the 23-year-old must achieve two goals in the event at Wuhan, China.
One, finish the event.
Two, beat New Zealand's Rebecca Jamieson who is also in the frame for the Oceania berth given to the region's highest-placed finisher.
Carrier knows it's a high-stakes event but is trying not to dwell on the outcome.
"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about qualifying for Tokyo," she said.
"But I really am just approaching this like any other competition. I'm excited to compete and I'll be going out there and doing what I know I can do."
Carrier said she had returned to peak fitness after a stress fracture in a thigh suffered in competition in Europe in June.
"Following on from that comp, the niggles grew and we sat back and said 'something is not quite right here, I think we better get a scan and find out what's going on'," she said.
"It turned out to be bone stress in my femur. It wasn't a break and we caught it at a good time, so that with rest and care it wouldn't become too serious."
Carrier's event will be followed on Tuesday AEDT by the Asia-Oceania men's modern pentathlon when Australia's Ed Fernon and Rhys Lanskey will battle for the automatic Olympic qualifying slot.
