Wurf sets sights on Tokyo Games triathlon

Australian triathlete Cameron Wurf's latest challenge is to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

For now, the former Olympic rower and pro cyclist is an outside chance to make the national Games team.

His first test will be a World Cup race next month at Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic, where the Tasmanian will try to start earning crucial ranking points.

Wurf cannot be eligible for selection unless he is among the top 140 in the International Triathlon Union world rankings.

He is a late starter in the qualifying process and only has a limited number of events where he can score points.

Last Sunday (AEST), Wurf finished fifth at the Hawaiian Ironman triathlon world championships, his best result in the iconic event.

But the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run event is a vastly different race to the Olympic distance, which is a 1.5/40/10 format.

Most triathletes, such as Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno and Alistair Frodeno, move up to Ironman rather than the other way around.

Wurf has had an unconventional sporting career, firstly rowing in the lightweight double scull at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

He then spent several years as a professional cyclist before switching full time to Ironman-distance triathlon.