The winter triathlon season gets underway in China this weekend with Saturday’s Winter Cup Harbin. Taking place 1300km northeast of Beijing in what is known as the City of Ice, for the first time since 2020 the Sun Island venue will offer up a course consisting of a one lap 4km run and 6km bike and a 2-lap 6km ski to the tape.

The event comes at the start of February, just three weeks before the Winter Triathlon World Championships Pragelato in the Italian Alps, and among the names on the men’s start list is last year’s world championship bronze medallist Franco Pesavento.

The Italian will headline the action in Harabin along with equally formidable world championship medalists and teammates Alessandro Saravalle and Giuseppe Lamastra.

Lamastra took 7th place on this course four years ago and will line up alongside Romanian talent Viorel Palici, Germany’s Sebastian Neef and China’s Chicun Baima. The Mongolian duo of Bayartsengel Luvsandavaa and Altanshagai Nyambuu complete the men’s line up in Harabin.

Home athletes dominate the start list of the women’s race, the young talent Yifei Li, Qiuxiang Ma, Yu Wang, Yula Danzeng, Miao Wang and Senyao Lu looking to take full advantage of a race on home turf, Romania’s national champion from 2022 Edit Keresztes-Vakaria the sole non-Chinese name on the list and ready to make an impact.

For more information and start lists click here.

World Triathlon is looking to expand its team in order to support the increasing activities of the international federation and is now seeking a Sustainability Manager to join the team! As World Triathlon Sustainability Manager, the newest member of the team will be responsible for managing and improving World Triathlon’s sustainability policies and procedures.

Job Summary:

* The successful candidate will be in charge of World Triathlon’s sustainability initiatives and report to the Secretary-General.
* Will be well-versed in sustainability practices within sports organisations
* Will be able to complete sustainability audits, write comprehensive reports, and present to various audiences, all in English.

Key responsibilities:
* Complete sustainability plans for the organisation and key stakeholders.
* Conduct site assessments and produce reports on findings.
* Initiate renewable energy assessments.
* Advise on the latest low or zero-carbon technologies.
* Write reports and fulfill obligations for our partners in sustainability.
* Work with the Sustainability Commission and World Triathlon staff to improve sustainability within the organization and its stakeholders.
* Review the Strategic Plan, Event Organisers Manual, and other documents and suggest and model ways to improve our sustainability as an organisation.

The candidate must:
* Be fluent in written and spoken English (other languages are an asset).
* Have at least three years of experience in the sustainability field.
* Be educated in sustainability, with a master’s in Environmental Sustainability or equivalent.
* Be a creative thinker.
* Have good time management skills.

Sustainability Manager

* Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
* Be able to travel internationally if/when required.
* Work well independently and within various team settings.
* Be able to organize, plan and work to strict deadlines.

A knowledge of the sport of triathlon is desirable, although not essential.

About us
World Triathlon is the world governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of Triathlon and all related Multisport disciplines: Duathlon, Aquathlon, Cross Triathlon, Aquabike and Winter Triathlon. World Triathlon was founded in 1989 at the first Congress in Avignon, France. World Triathlon is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and has offices in Madrid, Spain, and Vancouver, Canada. It has 170 affiliated National Federations worldwide and is one of the youngest international federations in the Olympic Games. Triathlon was awarded Olympic Games status in 1994. World Triathlon is proudly committed to supporting the development of the sport worldwide through strong relationships with continental and national federations, working with its partners to offer a balanced sport development program from grassroots to a high-performance level. For more information, visit: www.triathlon.org

Summary
Position: Sustainability Manager
Company: World Triathlon
Application Deadline: 18 February 2024
Classification: Full-time Employee
Start date: 15 April 2024
Location: There is the possibility of working in any of the three World Triathlon offices, or remotely.
Salary: Competitive
To Apply
Please email: jobs@triathlon.org with a current résumé and cover letter.
References may be requested. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

USA Triathlon is looking to hire a Para Development Program Coordinator, who will coordinate talent recruiting efforts to grow the High Performance paratriathlon development pipeline. This role will coordinate all logistics and camp planning efforts (for both Olympic & Para) at the US Performance Center in Charlotte, NC.

Essential Job Functions
·      Coordinate the talent recruiting efforts as directed by the HP team to grow the paratriathlon Paralympic pipeline.
·      Coordinate all logistics (Olympic & Para) and camp planning efforts at the US Performance Center in Charlotte, NC.
·      Plan, support, and execute all aspects of the Paratriathlon Development Race Series events. Serve as primary liaison, participant management, rankings, communications, marketing, budget management, and planning all details of any USAT clinics held at each event.
·      Plan, support, and execute Paratriathlon Impairment and Junior & Under 23 Development Camps. Serve as primary liaison, participant management, coach selection, communications, marketing, budget management, and post camp surveys.
·      Manage the Junior and U23 Paratriathlon Development Program. Hire the program coach (with oversight from the HP team) and serve as the primary liaison, participant management, communications, marketing, mentorship assignment, budget management, and travel assistance.
·      Develop and implement communication plans to support Paratriathlon Development programs and initiatives as needed.
·      Support classification events in the USA and maintain classification master list of athletes who have been classified (nationally and internationally).
·      Promote developmental camp opportunities with existing clubs, organizations, and facilities with an additional effort to enhance access to high performance development across economic and ethnic backgrounds.
·      Liaise with adaptive sport clubs and other organizations to increase sport introduction opportunities for adaptive athletes.
·      Serve as a primary point of contact for athletes, parents, & coaches related to Paratriathlon development initiatives/projects and development pathways.
·      Coordinate travel and logistics for development level camps as needed.
·      Serve as the USAT Paratriathlon Committee staff liaison to ensure priorities of the committee and USAT staff are parallel.
·      Maintain the Paratriathlon inbox along with the High Performance Programs Assistant Manager.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
·      Excellent organizational, oral, and written communication & interpersonal skills
·      Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, and social media platforms
·      Remote collaboration and independent self-motivated worker
·      Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and work under tight deadlines

Qualifications
·      Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management or related field, or equivalent work experience, required
·      1 year of experience in Olympic, Paralympic, and/or other High Performance sport preferred

Other
·      This position is based at the US Performance Center in Charlotte, NC
·      20% Travel required for development events to support HP initiatives
·      Must have a passport or be able to secure one – Some required travel outside of the US for international events
·      Ability to work occasional weekends and holidays as dictated by event schedules

Company Summary

Unlimited Vacation, Mental Health Days, 100% paid medical benefits for employee and so much more!

At USA Triathlon, we believe that life is better when you swim, bike and run. 
 
USA Triathlon is the Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of triathlon, all things multisport, and the largest multisport organization in the world. We spend every day thinking about growing and supporting the sport. We’re building the most innovative service organization in sports, transforming lives by inspiring participation to help communities become healthier all while representing our country at the highest levels of international competition, striving to win medals with class and integrity. 
 
Our guiding principles are service leadership, performance excellence, collaboration, and diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organization. We focus on listening and innovation to ensure we deliver best-in-class governance, provide comprehensive constituent support, and play a leadership role throughout the Olympic and Paralympic movement.
 
We work hard to serve the triathlon community and strive to being the best place to work in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic movement. We’ve been included on Front Office Sports’ “Best Employers in Sports” list twice (’20, ’21), selected twice as an honorable mention in Outside Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” and received the USOPC’s Advancements in Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2017 and the USOPC’s National Governing Bodies’ Diversity & Inclusion Choice Award in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
We achieve these great heights by focusing on hiring, training and promoting talented, dedicated, passionate individuals who want to get better every day. And we reward our teammates with unlimited vacation, 100% paid medical benefits, access to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and more. 
 
Come join us in Colorado Springs, the city ranked No. 2 in US News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Place to Live survey, be a part of the thriving Olympic & Paralympic movement, and hone your professional skills as you create opportunities for triathletes to live their best lives.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

APPLY NOW HERE

The World Triathlon Podcast returns for 2024 in the country where the World Cup season begins in a month’s time and with one of New Zealand’s brightest young talents to punch through last year, Dylan McCullough.

Born and raised in Auckland, Dylan dialled in from some solo training time in Arrowland, some 1200km south of the Napier World Cup venue, where he will line up for the first year’s taste of action on 24 February.

Currently sitting in 32nd place, McCullough’s rise and rise up the Olympic Rankings was down to some breakthrough displays on the blue carpet, starting with an agonising 4th place sprint finish at nearby New Plymouth and ending with a first World Cup podium in Miyazaki. In between there were big showings at the Paris Test Event relay, an excellent first Championship Finals and all the signs that the 22-year-old could be on course to join Hayden Wilde on the Paris 2024 start line on 30 July.

“Twelve months ago, I was in a completely different scenario,” admits McCullough on episode 87 of the podcast. “I wasn’t really in the Olympic frame, my ranking before the start of the season was 115th or something like that.”

To hear how he finds himself in pole position to help steer New Zealand’s Mixed Relay team to Paris success, how he feels about the team tactics that could help secure a fifth Olympic medal for New Zealand, and the time Justin Bieber visited his school, follow and download the podcast on Apple, Spotify and Google.

Youth Olympic Champion emerges from the shadows

It was a case of huge strides in 2023 for Dylan McCullough, rising from the fringes of the WTCS to finding himself in the midst of that Championship Finals front bike pack in Pontevedra and scoring a first World Cup podium with silver in Miyazaki.

The aggressive racing that has been his hallmark ever since winning the Youth Olympics title in 2018 was still right on show, only now with the experience to still be in contention down the closing stages of the run. Now he wants to start off the season with the Oceania Cup in Wanaka a week before Napier gets things going on the World Cup circuit once more, where as well as the likes of Olympic medallists Hayden Wilde and Alex Yee, there are some familiar foes like Ricardo Batista, Nicolo Strada and Alessio Crociani on the start list for the curtain-raiser.

“It’ll be good to have them here because they’re strong swimmers and cyclists, so it’d be nice to get a bit of a breakaway or something going. It’ll be good to see where everyone’s at. I’ve actually never been to Napier before so that’ll be new to me. We’ve got such a big history in New Plymouth, I remember back in the day, Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemell had a pretty iconic sprint finish… but I’m sure Napier and the tri community there will put on a good event.”

The Mixed Relay waiting game

As for breaking in to what has been a very established New Zealand mixed relay squad, it has been far from plain sailing, with even his shot at starting the Paris Test Event hampered by the format switch to duathlon. The team is well set in the automatic qualification places and is among those hoping to upset the favourites in Paris, namely hosts France, defending champions Great Britain and reigning World Champions Germany.

“There was quite a few guys ahead of me with Ryan (Sissons) and Sam Ward, Tayler (Reid) and those guys. But Ryan and Sam have retired now, Kyle (Smith) has gone to long course, so it’s been quite a sudden moving up the ranks. It was probably too big of a jump back in 2021 doing that WTCS Montreal… but I think it was really good for me to grow. I was selected for the Sunderland Mixed Relay, but I got really sick… so I couldn’t start that and then the Paris Mixed Relay was a duathlon, so I’ve had some good chances to be in the team, but I haven’t been able to do ‘proper’ Mixed Team Relays.”

Team tactics could be the key

Then there is the matter of the individual race, where McCullough won’t be taking anything for granted but knows that form is on his side when it comes to taking the second starting place if Tayler Reid doesn’t make an improbable leap into the top 30 to secure a third men’s slot for the kiwis. Have there ever been any discussions about a domestique role for Hayden Wilde either at Pontevedra or looking towards Paris?

“No, I thought there would be going into the (Pontevedra) race, but no, there was no discussion at all about that. So I don’t know, maybe that was a mistake, or not, but yeah, you really can work as a team if you want to, but it’s not up to me it’s up to the Tri NZ high performance and Hayden and his team. So yeah, there was no plan going to the race… unlike the French by the looks. I think (Hayden) just likes to race hard and do pretty much everything by himself. I’m sure the French will be wanting to do what they’ve done in Pontevedra and Abu Dhabi again on home turf in front of a home crowd. So yeah, that’d be exciting.”

You can listen to the full interview below and the World Triathlon Cup and Mixed Relay Napier weekend will be streamed in full on TriathlonLive.tv.

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As 2023 came to a close, a number of World Triathlon Development and Education projects saw out the year in December. These included -

- World Triathlon Continental Development Grants - Americas Triathlon signed the 2024 World Triathlon Development agreement, making it the first region to do so.

- In National Federation Services, the last virtual Open Hour was held on 13-14 December. World Triathlon updates, event details and outstanding achievements were highlighted and shared.

- Asia Triathlon held its last Level 2 coaching course in Qatar, closing out a very bust year for the region.

- The strong relationship between the Venezuelan Triathlon Federation and their National Olympic Committee saw them receive an IOC Olympic Solidarity grant to host a World Triathlon Coaches Level 1 Course designed to develop coaches for the region. All details can be found below.

- World Triathlon recognises the support of all National Federations, Associate Members and Continental Confederations for their continuous support and collaboration in delivering development projects worldwide

WORLD TRIATHLON CONTINENTAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

Americas Triathlon is the first to sign the World Triathlon Development Agreement for 2024 after the TRI Executive Board approved their projects and budget allocation for the Olympic Year of 2024 in their last meeting in Lausanne in early December.

The 2024 Americas Triathlon - World Triathlon Development Agreement can be downloaded here: Documents • World Triathlon.

NATIONAL FEDERATION SERVICES

Last NF Open Hours: Balance of 2023

All members were invited to join the virtual National Federation Open Hours on December 13 and 14. As well as World Triathlon updates provided by Secretary General Antonio F. Arimany and event updates from World Triathlon Sport Director Gergely Markus, the participants received an overview of the new procedures in athletes’ Anti-Doping Education to take effect on February 1 2024.

The last session also offered opportunities to look back on the extraordinary achievements of our members in 2023.
Those highlighted were -
- Mr Ali Magboul, President of the Saudi Triathlon Federation and Mr Majid Amahroc, President of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Triathlon, provided valuable insights about their national successes and challenges while hosting outstanding continental (2023 Asia Triathlon Sprint Championships Al-Khobar) and world (2023 World Triathlon Cup Tangier) events in 2023 for the first time.
- Mr Juan Manuel Velasco Diez, President of the Colombian Triathlon Federation and two Caribbean National Federation Presidents, represented by Ms Karen Araujo (Trinidad and Tobago) and Mr Dorian Roach (Bahamas), highlighted their remarkable contributions to the development of Triathlon in their region in 2023.

For the presentation and recordings, please visit Triathlon.org
December 13-14, 2023 | TRI Updates & NF Achievements
December Presentation
Webinar Recording (13 December session, English)
Webinar Recording (13 December session, French)
Webinar Recording (14 December session, Español)
The first NF Open Hours for 2024 will take place on 14-15 February 2024.

COACH EDUCATION

Qatar Welcome Level 2 Coach Candidates

Asia Triathlon’s last development project in a very busy year for the region was the 2023 Doha World Triathlon Coaches Level 2 Course held in Qatar from December 10-14. Eight coaches from five National Federations - Jordan, Kuwait, Philippines, United Arab Emirates and Qatar - gathered for five days to deepen and strengthen their knowledge of triathlon coaching.

The World Triathlon Level 2 Coach Education focuses on developing and delivering more advanced triathlon coaching practices, including individualised support and understanding of the processes and principles of coaching triathlon activities to groups of children and/or adults through the application of training science. Vicent Beltran (ESP), World Triathlon Coach Facilitator, guided the candidates through the practical and technical aspects.

Fahad Al-Mohammad (QAT): “This course added significant value to my coaching experience. The practical testing sessions unlocked a new level of knowledge for me. This course reshaped my coaching approach completely.”

Isora Sosa (QAT): “This course allowed me to apply all the theories I have learned during my studies. It also answered many questions I have had since I started studying.”

Firas Al-Hmood (JOR): “As a participant in this seminar, I had the chance to realise that in order to understand triathlon more, we must experience and process our plans.”

Venezuela Expands its Coaches’ Community

Thanks to the excellent relationship between the Venezuelan Triathlon Federation and the National Olympic Committee, the federation received an IOC Olympic Solidarity grant to host a World Triathlon Coaches Level 1 Course.

After months of significant planning and preparation between all the parties involved - IOC, NOC, NF and World Triathlon - the 2023 La Guaira OS - World Triathlon Coaches Level 1 Course took place between December 11-15.

Eighteen newly trained coaches (12 male and 6 female) were prepared to enrich the coaching community in Venezuela to cover the growing need nationwide.

World Triathlon Coach Facilitators Claudia Beristain (MEX) and Ultiminio Alvarez (MEX) delivered the course.

Eligible lists - Level 2 Coaches Education ’

World Triathlon published the lists of all eligible coaches per continent who can take their education to the next level (Level 2). Please check out on Triathlon.org

Asia Triathlon - List of World Triathlon Level 2 Eligible Coaches 2024
Africa Triathlon - List of World Triathlon Level 2 Eligible Coaches 2024
Europe Triathlon - List of World Triathlon Level 2 Eligible Coaches 2024
Americas Triathlon - List of World Triathlon Level 2 Eligible Coaches 2024
Oceania Triathlon - List of World Triathlon Level 2 Eligible Coaches 2024

Central Africa hosted the first international Duathlon in Bouar

The first weekend of December will always be remembered in Central Africa after hosting the first International Duathlon event in Bouar. Hundreds of locals gathered to cheer the participating athletes from Chad, Cameroon and Central Africa, competing in three age categories: Junior, Elite and Age-Group.

Stay updated on World Triathlon National Federation Services & Development
Contact us at development@triathlon.org or federations@triathlon.org

On 1-2 September 2024, in France’s world-famous capital city, 120 men and women will be hitting the start lines on the Seine River to chase their Paris 2024 Paralympic Triathlon dreams.

The big prizes are the eleven gold medals in total available, with the PTS2, PTS3, PTS4 and PTS5 classes on the Sunday, PTVI and PTWC on the Monday.

For each medal event, the top 9 athletes in the Paralympic Rankings after 1 July 2024 will auto-qualify a slot for Paris 2024, the exception being the women’s PTS4 class, where it will be the top 9 plus the top 5 on the PTS3 ranking and classing-up is possible due to there being no women’s PTS3 medal event.

A further 16 (gender-free) slots then will be filled through the Bipartite Commission Invitations, the recipients of which are decided jointly by the IPC and World Triathlon.

It must also be noted that each qualified place goes to that country, rather than the specific athletes achieving those ranking places, so the final selection of the maximum 2 athletes per medalling event, per NPC, ultimately remains in the hands of the National Paralympic Committees.

The Paralympic Qualification Period began on 1 July 2023 and runs through to the same date in 2024, two months before the big show gets underway. Between now and the cut-off point, there are no fewer than thirteen ranking races at which the athletes can put themselves into contention or confirm their spot, the top three results counting - the coming months are going to be crucial!

World Triathlon Para Series
15 March – World Triathlon Para Series Devonport (AUS)
11 May – World Triathlon Para Series Yokohama (JPN)
22 June – World Triathlon Para Series Swansea (GBR)
29 June – World Triathlon Para Series Montreal (CAN)

World Triathlon Para Cup
8 March – World Triathlon Para Cup Abu Dhabi (UAE)
21 April – World Triathlon Para Cup Yenisehir (TUR)
18-19 May – World Triathlon Para Cup Samarkand (UZB)
1-2 June – World Triathlon Para Cup Vigo (ESP)
8-9 June – World Triathlon Para Cup Taranto (ITA)
15 June – World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon (FRA)

Continental Championships
4 February – Oceania Triathlon Para Championships Stockton (AUS)
8 March – Americas Triathlon Para Championships Miami (USA)
2 June – Asia Triathlon Para Championships Subic Bay (PHI)

check the points available at each race here

Chasing the security of the rankings top 9

With qualification routes rather more straightforward than those of the Olympic Games, and few surprises at the top of the rankings at the turn of the year, among the names looking to get 2024 off to a fast start will be Nic Beveridge H1, currently 11th in the men’s PTWC ranking (topped by USA’s Howie Sanborn H1) but with only two out of three results counting so far unlike all those ahead of him, so one strong result should see him make inroads to the safety of the top 9. A first WTCS win in Yokohama last year will leave Japan’s Jumpei Kimura H1 confident, too, despite a disappointing end to 2023, while successive Para Cup golds in Taranto and A Coruna have catapulted Giuseppe Romele H1 (ITA) up to 7th in the rankings.

After USA’s Kendall Gretsch H2 won that sprint finish against Lauren Parker H1 (AUS) in Tokyo, the women’s PTWC rankings are again full of further medal contenders. Fewer than 40 points separate Netherlands’ Margret Ijdema H1, Mexico’s Brenda Osnaya Alvarez H1 and USA’s Skyler Fisher H2 in 9th, 10th and 11th respectively, all three possible to feature in Paris.

PTVI race for places hotting up

In the visually impaired class rankings, a little over 50 points is all that separates Sam Harding B3 (AUS), Donnacha McCarthy B1 (IRL), Paul Lloveras B2 (FRA) and Gerasimos Lignos B3 (GRE) in the 9th-12th positions of the men’s PTVI rankings at the start of 2024. Lazar Filipovic B2 (SRB) stands in 13th currently, chasing a first Games having passed up his place for Tokyo 2020 after an accident left him less than fully fit. Ireland’s Judith Maccombe B3 ended 2023 with back-to-back Para Cup podiums and finds herself in contention despite having only three races in the period to her name.

Among the names to watch in the women’s PTS4 class will be the young American talent Emma Meyers, who claimed her first Para Series win and fourth successive podium in Swansea at the age of just 18 and in her second year of racing. With a first Paralympic qualification looking assured, could a medal even be in reach? Kendra Herber currently sits in 9th spot but is the third American athlete, so WTCS Montreal champion Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas (MEX) will be looking to seize her opportunity to qualify along with Australia’s Sally Pilbeam.

The men’s PTS4 sees the likes of Alejandro Sánchez Palomero (ESP), Jorge Luis Fonseca (BRA) and Jeremy Peacock (AUS) on the hunt for the security of the top 9, experienced names such as Mhlengi Gwala (RSA) and Jiachao Wang (CHN) further down but with just one ranking race to date and ready to start their surge.

All eyes on 1 July prize

Bronze in Long Beach last year saw Britain’s Michael Salisbury closing in on the top 10 of the men’s PTS5, just 25 points behind Australia’s David Bryant, Antoine Besse (FRA) also chasing hard in 12th place. In the women’s PTS5, Cristina Miranda Zambrano (ESP) and Emilie Gral (FRA) will have their eyes on Monika Belczewska (POL) currently in 9th.

Para Cup silver medallists in 2023, Stephane Bahier (FRA) and Adam Popp (USA) will want to consolidate their places inside the men’s PTS2 top 9, while Allysa Seely currently sits 9th and is the third USA female in the women’s PTS2, with new faces likely to be making their debuts on the rankings early in 2024.

Finally, in the men’s PTS3, a mere 10 points separates positions 8-11 in the rankings; Ibrahim Al Hussein (TRI), Diego Lardón Ferrer (ESP), Giovanni Sciaccaluga (ITA) and Michael Herter (FRA) all with a job to do before 1 July if they are to secure their Paris places.

The new year is here and the Paris 2024 qualification picture is beginning to clear for some of the athletes chasing the 55 men’s and 55 women’s berths on the Olympic start line.

The qualification routes to Paris are numerous, always with a maximum of three athletes per gender per country. Based on the Mixed Relay as well as individual Olympic rankings, there’s also the Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification event Huatulco, New Flag positions (for the top-ranked athletes on each continent from countries not already qualified) and up to two Tripartite invitations per gender will be awarded after the 27 May deadline.

Before which there now remain three World Triathlon Championship Series events, six World Triathlon Cups, three Continental Championships and a Continental Games at which the athletes can earn points for the individual qualification rankings and contribute to their second-period scores, plus two Mixed Relay Series events, a Mixed Relay Qualification event and a Continental Mixed Relay in Oceania. The race for places is heating up!

WORLD TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
8 March – World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi (UAE)
11 May – World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama (JPN)
25-26 May – World Triathlon Championship Series Cagliari (ITA)

WORLD TRIATHLON CUP
24 February – World Triathlon Cup Napier (NZL)
24 March – World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong (HKG)
20 April – World Triathlon Cup Wollongong (AUS)
29 April – World Triathlon Cup Chengdu (CHN)
18-19 May – World Triathlon Cup Samarkand (UZB)
18-19 May – World Triathlon Cup Huatulco (MEX)

CONTINENTAL EVENTS
16 March – African Games Accra (GHA)
16 March – Oceania Triathlon Sprint Championships Devonport (AUS)
14 April – Oceania Triathlon Championships Napier (NZL)
21 April – Asia Triathlon Championships Hatsukaichi (JPN)

MIXED RELAY EVENTS
25 February – World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Napier (NZL)
9 March – World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Abu Dhabi (UAE)
17 March – Oceania Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships Devonport (AUS)
17 May – World Triathlon Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Event Huatulco (MEX)

With 4-6 races from the first qualification period and 6-8 second-period scores (up to a total of 12 races) taken into account in the hunt for positions, every place can count when the final tallies are totted up at the end of May. The points available at the remaining races can be found here. (Each spot goes to that country, rather than the athletes in those places, so the final selection ultimately remains in the hands of the federations and NOCs.)

French and German teams taking shape

To qualify the maximum number of men and/or women, there must be three of that gender inside the top 30 of the Olympic Ranking as of 27 May 2024. France, USA, Great Britain, Germany are currently on course to qualify three women, Hungary, Spain, France and Germany looking most likely to take three men as it stands - early 2024 form will be critical in catching the selectors’ eyes.

The French names all but confirmed are the men’s 2023 World Champion Dorian Coninx, the women’s runner up in the Series Cassandre Beaugrand and Championship Finals bronze medallist Pierre Le Corre. The man currently in number one spot in the Olympic rankings but yet to hit their criteria to qualify is another Frenchman; 2022 world champion Leo Bergere.

After a huge 2023 for German triathlon, Laura Lindemann, Lisa Tertsch, Nina Eim, Lasse Luhrs and Tim Hellwig have all fulfilled their federation’s criteria to qualify for Paris thanks to their respective results in the Test Event and Pontevedra Finals, while who could take a third men’s spot remains in the balance.

Brazil’s Manoel Messias, Csongor Lehmann of Hungary and Netherlands’ Maya Kingma and Rachel Klamer have all fulfilled their NF criteria and booked their starts at Paris 2024, the Dutch legend looking likely to be joined by husband Richard Murray.Alex Yee and Beth Potter’s victories in the Paris Test Event saw them become the first names on that provisional Team GB squad, the second male currently Barclay Izzard (rank 44) with Jonathan Brownlee just three spots lower.

Pearson and Knibb set to star for USA

As he was ahead of Tokyo 2020,  Morgan Pearson became the first US male to confirm his spot, Taylor Knibb the only American woman with her place set after both finished inside the top 7 at the Test Event. That means the chase is now on for the likes of Matthew McElroy (16) and Seth Rider (38), Taylor Spivey (3) and the five other American women currently inside the top 50 - including Rio 2016 Champion Gwen Jorgensen and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Katie Zaferes.

Oceania’s first confirmed athlete is Australian Matthew Hauser with compatriot Natalie Van Coevorden the top-ranked Australian woman, while New Zealand’s Ainsley Thorpe and Nicole Van Der Kaay, Hayden Wilde and Dylan McCullough are currently inside the top 50. Miriam Casillas Garcia and Antonio Serrat Seoane are Spain’s ‘pre-qualifiers’ almost certainly assured of a start, Jeanne Lehair is all set for an exciting Olympic debut for Luxembourg, likewise Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal for Mexico.

Getting real for the return of Olympic Mixed Relay

At the start of 2024 we have already seen some significant confirmations of places. As hosts, France automatically received 2 men’s and two women’s spots to field a relay team. That meant that when they won the 2022 Mixed Relay World Championships in Montreal (which also saw 2 men and 2 women’s spots in Paris on the line), it was the team in second – Great Britain – who also guaranteed two men’s and two women’s berths for the Olympic Mixed Relay on 5 August.

Team Germany was crowned World Champions in Hamburg and secured 2+2 Paris places. Now, the top six countries on the Mixed Relay Rankings on 25 March 2024 will receive 2 places per gender, rolling down to the next eligible if a higher team is already qualified (eg. France, GB, Germany). The top two nations at the Mixed Relay Qualification Event in Huatulco not already guaranteed a team in Paris will also secure 2+2 places, making it a potentially massive day in Mexico for the likes of Team Hungary, Japan and indeed Mexico to potentially qualify a team.

110 men and women, five continents, only two individual champions

Two male and two female Universality Places will be awarded by the Tripartite Commission, and continental representation will be ensured through the New Flag route, where one place is awarded to the highest ranking NOC from each continent not yet qualified as of 27 May 2024 (in the priority order; Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania).

At the turn of 2024, that means for the women Ekaterina Shabalina (KAZ) or Bailee Brown (HKG) in contention for the Asia slot and a possible three-way battle of Slovakian talent with Ivana Kuriackova, Zuzana Michalickova and Romana Gajdosova vying for a European slot along with Melanie Santos (POR) and Tilda Mansson (SWE).

Shanae Williams (RSA) and Manami Iijima (GUM) lead the way in the Africa and Oceania chase, while Argentina’s Romina Biagioli could take the slot for the Americas with Raquel Solis Guerrero (CRC) over 300 points behind.

Men’s New Flag opens new doors

These names are far from an exhaustive list of contenders, however, and what happens in the places higher up the ranking over the coming months will of course change things up considerably. For the European men’s New Flag for example, Felix Duchampt (ROU) lies in that slot, but could qualify within the Olympic Rankings alone and therefore that place could roll to Vitalii Vorontsov (UKR) or Panagiotis Bitados, the Greek talent who didn’t race in the first period.

Matthew Wright (BAR) looks well set for the Americas’ spot, Jean Gael Laurent L’entete (MRI) and Siefeldeen Ismail (EGY) are competing for the Africa New Flag and another Hong Kong athlete, Jason Tai Long Ng, and Ayan Beisenbayev (KAZ) could be battling it out for the Asia slot. With no Oceania male in or near the top-180 cut-off, that slot looks set to go to the highest non-qualified athlete on the Olympic Rankings.

Some mouthwatering match-ups ahead, and it all kicks off in Napier on 24 February on TriathlonLive.tv.

The World Triathlon Executive Board has approved the awarding of the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals to Wollongong, Australia. AusTriathlon have joined forces with the New South Wales Government and Wollongong City Council in a landmark three-year partnership that will bring World Triathlon racing down under.

The Championship Finals are the crown jewel of World Triathlon’s annual calendar, with over 4,000 athletes, family and friends expected to travel to Australia for the 2025 Finals. Athletes from 32 countries were present in the last edition of the Championship Finals, hosted in Spain, and the number is expected to grow in the next two editions.

At the Wollongong Finals, World Champions will be crowned for the Elite, U23, Junior and Para triathlon, the Mixed Relay World Championships for U23/Juniors and Para triathlon, as well as Age-Group Standard distance, Age-Group Sprint distance, Age-Group Aquabike Standard distance and Age-Group Mixed Relay World Championships.

As part of the deal, the City of Wollongong will host not only the 2025 Finals but two other major World Triathlon events: the 2024 World Triathlon Cup - scheduled for 20-21 April 2024, an additional World Triathlon event in 2026 as well as AusTriathlon’s marquee Australian Standard Distance Championships for Age Group, Junior Sprint and Para and Intellectual Impairment Championships.

With the 2024 Wollongong World Triathlon Cup planning to serve as a test event for the Championship Finals in 2025, this will mark the return of elite international racing to Australian shores, after Australia last hosted the World Triathlon Championships Final in 2018, and a World Cup in 2020.

“I am thrilled that we are back in Australia with this long-term plan that will lead to another magnificent Championship Finals down under. Australia has proved multiple times that they are truly committed with our sport and deliver excellent events, and indeed Wollongong will follow the steps of other events that have marked the history of World Triathlon.

With the breathtaking landscapes of Wollongong, triathletes from all over the world, and of course their friends and relatives, will be able to experience another truly remarkable and unforgettable celebration of our sport,” said World Triathlon President and IOC Member, Marisol Casado.

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said visitors and locals alike would benefit from the hosting of World Triathlon Championship Finals.

“Events like the triathlon are a great way to showcase the unique surrounds of the region. NSW has an outstanding track record for hosting major international sporting events and World Triathlon competitors, officials and supporters will benefit from those credentials when they travel to Wollongong over the next three years.”

“The NSW Government is proud to partner with AusTriathlon and Wollongong City Council to secure these major events for the region, ensuring that visitors experience an inimitable coastal lifestyle while providing a boost to the state’s visitor economy.”

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said it was a coup for the city to be hosting not only the 2024 World Triathlon Cup but also the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals and a third World Triathlon event in 2026.

“Over the next three years we’re going to be seeing the world’s best triathletes compete in our city, and this is a great event and news for our community,’’ he said. “Not only will we once again welcome international athletes into Wollongong, but we’ll have the opportunity to witness the best of triathletes against the backdrop of the natural beauty of our city and region.’’

Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said the city has a reputation for delivering high quality international sporting events and that he welcomed the opportunity to do so again. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our residents to see some of the world’s leading athletes competing in our local area,’’ he said. “Wollongong is in great company – other areas the World Triathlon Championship Series has been held in 2023 included Montreal, Hamburg and Yokohama.’’

AusTriathlon CEO Tim Harradine said the organisation is thrilled to have the backing of the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. “AusTriathlon is pleased to announce Wollongong as the host of three major international events over the next three years,” Harradine said. “The World Triathlon Championship Finals have been hosted in some picturesque locations around the world, and we are excited to work with World Triathlon, the NSW Government and the City of Wollongong to bring this event down under.

“Bringing these three marquee international events to our shores is a great opportunity for AusTriathlon and our community, as we continue to build on the green and gold runway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.

Previous hosts of the Championship Finals have included such cities as London, Budapest, Beijing, Auckland, Chicago, Gold Coast, Lausanne, Edmonton, Abu Dhabi, and Pontevedra, with the next edition traveling to Malaga, Spain, in October 2024.