Matt Hauser has enthused that Australia's Olympic triathletes are "well on our way" after two barren Games.
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Australia could have fielded two teams with realistic medal chances when the sport made its Olympic debut at Sydney 2000, but those days of domination are long gone.
Erin Densham's bronze at the 2012 London Games was Australia's most recent Olympic medal and overall, the Tokyo campaign was a disaster.
Australia is also yet to win a medal in men's Olympic triathlon.
But Hauser's win at the Hamburg world series round on Sunday morning (AEST) was another encouraging sign that the tide is turning ahead of Paris.
While many fellow Olympic medal contenders were missing from Hamburg, the win was an invaluable confidence boost for Hauser.
Olympic team bolter Luke Willian also continued his encouraging form, finishing 11th, and he leads the men's series rankings ahead of Hauser.
Sophie Linn finished 21st in the women's race and Natalie Van Coevorden was 22nd as they build up to the Olympics.
"It's great for Luke to have another solid result. We're one and two in the world at the moment - leading into Paris, that's pretty cool," Hauser said.
"We were seen as one of the strongest countries in triathlon only a little while back, for us to slip back in the rankings is a tough pill to swallow, but it's something I've taken on my shoulders and I really want to flip the script.
"People like Luke, Sophie, and Nat having good results out there today as well really confirms we're well on our way to doing that.
"I think that Paris will be a really good step forward. If we can keep this momentum going, hopefully we can encourage and inspire the next generation coming through in Australia and become one of the greats in triathlon again."
Hauser, 26, was also runner-up at the previous world series race two months ago in Yokohama.
New Zealander Hayden Wilde, Great Britain's Alex Yee and French pair Leo Bergere and Dorian Coninx did not race in Hamburg.
Hauser won the 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run race in 50 minutes three seconds, with Portugal's Vasco Vilaca six seconds behind.
"It's a really good confidence booster. It's not a necessary one and I knew that going in. Whether I had a good or bad result, it wouldn't change anything for two weeks time. It's a nice little nudge in the right direction," Hauser said.
"There were a few big dogs missing out there, but in two weeks' time they'll fill in the gaps and we'll have a good showdown.
"You've got to beat the best to be the best. Certainly we want the Olympic Games to be the culmination of the world's best athletes.
"Those guys have shown over the past few years they're the ones to beat.
"They're leading the charge at the moment and I really want to be with them come crunch time in Paris."
French star Cassandre Beaugrand won the women's event ahead of Great Britain's Beth Potter and they will be among the Paris contenders.
The men's Olympic triathlon is scheduled for July 30 and the women on July 31, although the River Seine water quality could change the race dates.
The mixed relay, which made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, is set for August 5.
Australian Associated Press
