Ryan Bailie's off the Rio

Bunbury-raised triathlete Ryan Bailie will show his skills and stamina on the world stage later this year after qualifying for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

After a career best 2015, Bailie began this year in sublime form and it all came together on Saturday when he finished fourth in the world triathlon series Gold Coast race, giving him automatic selection for this year’s games.

Even more remarkably, the 26-year-old pushed through calf issues in the final leg of the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km to be the first Australian across the line at the Wollongong-based event.

“If you said six years ago I’d be going to my first Olympic Games I’d probably be laughing at you,” Bailie said.

Bailie told reporters he would not be taking time off before the Olympic Games, with the triathlete planning to continue competing in the world triathlon series.

“For me, I wouldn’t really like to change too much,” he said.

“Obviously it is the Olympic Games, but I think people can get caught in that trap of changing things too drastically.

“I’m a racer, I love racing.

“I won’t probably have to go to Yokohama, but I still enjoy going there because it’s on the way to Europe anyway. We’ll see what we do post there.”

Bailie joins training partner and good mate Aaron Royle in the Australian team.

The third spot on the team is up to selectors to allocate at their discretion.

Bailie capped the weekend off by winning two Australian triathlon awards – the athletes’ athlete prize and best male at the Triathlon Australia’s annual awards.

The world triathlon series stops next in Cape Town, South Africa, where Bailie will hope to raise% his ranking in the series from eighth.