Following its debut at Rio later this year, Paratriathlon is to be included in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast for the first time ever.
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Following its debut at Rio later this year, Paratriathlon is to be included in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast for the first time ever.
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There will just be one class for men and women, the PT1, which is for wheelchair users. Athletes use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment.
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Related:
Paratriathlon: the ultimate guide
Britain’s pioneering approach to elite paratriathlon training
Having paratriathlon included on the programme for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is great news,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “I can’t imagine a better place for paratriathlon to be tested on the Commonwealth Games programme than Gold Coast, which hosts many ITU events & is a mecca for the sport of triathlon. Paratriathletes will no doubt enjoy fantastic support in the coastal city.”
The Gold Coast has served as a consistent host of ITU events, hosting the first ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final back in 2009. It returned to the Series line up last year, and will host a World Triathlon Series race until 2018, when it will again organise the Grand Final.
“The Gold Coast will be a hub for triathlon and paratriathlon activity at both the elite and age group level in 2018 with both the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final and the Commonwealth Games hosted there,” said Casado.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games has the largest-ever para-sport programme, comprising up to 300 para-athletes and 38 medal events across 7 sports.
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Related: GB paratri team grab gold, silver and two bronze at Worlds
Now its fifth year, the Ironman Legacy Program has once again granted 100 athletes the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Ironman World Championship at Kona.
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Of these 100 chosen five are from the UK including Rav Dighe, Amin Golbidi, Bob Gordon, Alistair McVeigh, and Mark Walsh, and one from Ireland, John Milne.
To be eligible for selection for Kona the athletes must have;
a) Completed a minimum of 12 full-distance Ironman-branded races
b) Have never started the iconic Ironman World Championship
c) Have completed at least one Ironman event in each of the 2014 and 2015 seasons,
d) Be registered for an Ironman event in 2016.
If you are interested in the opportunity for 2017 applications will open later in the year.
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“It is important for us to recognise and reward our most loyal and long-term athletes,” said Andrew Messick, CEO of Ironman. “Our Legacy athletes are the heart of our sport and are powerful ambassadors. Their loyalty to and love of Ironman is inspiring.”
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Now its fifth year, the Ironman Legacy Program has once again granted 100 athletes the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Ironman World Championship at Kona.
Advertisement
Of these 100 chosen five are from the UK including Rav Dighe, Amin Golbidi, Bob Gordon, Alistair McVeigh, and Mark Walsh, and one from Ireland, John Milne.
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To be eligible for selection for Kona the athletes must have;
a) Completed a minimum of 12 full-distance Ironman-branded races
b) Have never started the iconic Ironman World Championship
c) Have completed at least one Ironman event in each of the 2014 and 2015 seasons,
d) Be registered for an Ironman event in 2016.
If you are interested in the opportunity for 2017 applications will open later in the year.
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“It is important for us to recognise and reward our most loyal and long-term athletes,” said Andrew Messick, CEO of Ironman. “Our Legacy athletes are the heart of our sport and are powerful ambassadors. Their loyalty to and love of Ironman is inspiring.”
The ITU World Paratriathlon season starts this Sunday in Buffalo City, South Africa and Brits Lauren Steadman and Alison Patrick will be hoping to seal their Paralympic Games selections. Others are chasing ranking points that will help them qualify later in the season.
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>>> Paratriathlon: the ultimate guide
Steadman and Patrick can achieve automatic selection by virtue of having won medals at both the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in 2014 and 2015. Winning this weekend will seal their selections.
ITU World Champion, Steadman said: “It would be a big boost to secure Paralympic selection this weekend. However, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, this is the first race of the season.
“It’s great that the season is getting under way, and that Paralympic year is finally here. This is what we have all been working towards for many years.”
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General selection will consider medal winning performances at the 2015 ITU World Championships as well as top ten performances at the ETU European Championships in May and rounds of the ITU World Paratriathlon Event Series up to 20 June.
>>>BTF announce selection policy for Paralympics
Head Coach, Jonathon Riall said: “There have been some big strides made over the winter and now is the opportunity for athletes to put their practice into a performance. This is the start, and what ever happens we will build from here towards the summer and aim to be in our best possible shape in Rio. The whole team is chasing ranking points, so every race is important now.”
The course in Buffalo City features a 750m sea swim, flat 20km bike and 5km run section.
The GB athletes are;
PT1: Phil Hogg, Bret Crossley
PT2: Ryan Taylor
PT4: Dave Hill, Lauren Steadman
PT4: Alison Patrick (guide Nicole Walters), Melissa Reid (guide Hazel Smith)
Former European Champion Phil Hogg who competes in the PT1 class said:
“I was involved in a cycling accident in 1991 which left me paralysed from the waist down. I took part in wheelchair racing for many years before discovering triathlon. I love the fact that triathlon rewards hard work and dedication, and if I can make it to Rio it will be the absolute highlight of my career to be there for the sport’s debut. To compete for your country at the highest level is a honour and privilege that doesn’t come easy.
“I compete in the PT1 category where everyone I am up against has little or no use of their legs. We swim the same course as every competitor in the other classifications, and then race on hand cycles during the bike section and racing chairs for the run. As you can imagine, it takes some serious arm power to complete all three sections, so we’re the guys with the huge shoulder and back muscles! I expect Rio to be the fastest, most competitive PT1 event the world will ever have seen, so make sure to watch it in September!”
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Find complete start lists and event information here
The ITU World Paratriathlon season starts this Sunday in Buffalo City, South Africa and Brits Lauren Steadman and Alison Patrick will be hoping to seal their Paralympic Games selections. Others are chasing ranking points that will help them qualify later in the season.
Advertisement
>>> Paratriathlon: the ultimate guide
Steadman and Patrick can achieve automatic selection by virtue of having won medals at both the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in 2014 and 2015. Winning this weekend will seal their selections.
ITU World Champion, Steadman said: “It would be a big boost to secure Paralympic selection this weekend. However, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, this is the first race of the season.
“It’s great that the season is getting under way, and that Paralympic year is finally here. This is what we have all been working towards for many years.”
General selection will consider medal winning performances at the 2015 ITU World Championships as well as top ten performances at the ETU European Championships in May and rounds of the ITU World Paratriathlon Event Series up to 20 June.
>>>BTF announce selection policy for Paralympics
Head Coach, Jonathon Riall said: “There have been some big strides made over the winter and now is the opportunity for athletes to put their practice into a performance. This is the start, and what ever happens we will build from here towards the summer and aim to be in our best possible shape in Rio. The whole team is chasing ranking points, so every race is important now.”
The course in Buffalo City features a 750m sea swim, flat 20km bike and 5km run section.
The GB athletes are;
PT1: Phil Hogg, Bret Crossley
PT2: Ryan Taylor
PT4: Dave Hill, Lauren Steadman
PT4: Alison Patrick (guide Nicole Walters), Melissa Reid (guide Hazel Smith)
Former European Champion Phil Hogg who competes in the PT1 class said:
“I was involved in a cycling accident in 1991 which left me paralysed from the waist down. I took part in wheelchair racing for many years before discovering triathlon. I love the fact that triathlon rewards hard work and dedication, and if I can make it to Rio it will be the absolute highlight of my career to be there for the sport’s debut. To compete for your country at the highest level is a honour and privilege that doesn’t come easy.
“I compete in the PT1 category where everyone I am up against has little or no use of their legs. We swim the same course as every competitor in the other classifications, and then race on hand cycles during the bike section and racing chairs for the run. As you can imagine, it takes some serious arm power to complete all three sections, so we’re the guys with the huge shoulder and back muscles! I expect Rio to be the fastest, most competitive PT1 event the world will ever have seen, so make sure to watch it in September!”
Advertisement
Find complete start lists and event information here
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The British duo will be joined by fellow male athletes Gordon Benson andTom Bishop, who will be hoping to impress the British selectors for Rio and get the third spot on the team with the Brownlees.
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The women’s race features Jodie Stimpson and Helen Jenkins, who will be looking to impress British selectors and claim the final third team place for Rio, with Vicky Holland and Non Stanford who have already secured their Olympic spots.
Both demonstrated good form by winning gold and bronze respectively in the previous round of the Series in Abu Dhabi.
Qualification requires evidence of ability to win an individual medal in Rio, and a nomination committee will meet following the race to review performances.
Stimpson, who won in Abu Dhabi and also in the ITU World Cup the following weekend in Mooloolaba said: “This is a massive race, which is unusual this early in the season, but I have taken a lot of confidence from my first two races this year. I will put in my best performance possible on the day, that’s all you can ever ask for.”
Double ITU World Champion, Jenkins said: “I have had a great training block since Abu Dhabi and feel like I have moved my fitness on. I need to put in a performance that shows I am able to podium at Rio. It’s going to be up to the selectors to decide on the athlete they want to take.”
Both races promise to be exciting races with a strong British squad hoping for glory. The Brownlee brothers will want to set up a fast swim to ensure the pace is high right from the start. Spain’s Mario Mola is currently ranked number one in the world following his win in the opening round of the Series in Abu Dhabi.
Jonathan Brownlee, who will be hoping to emulate his victory here last year, said: “The Gold Coast race was one of my best ever performances last year so it’s brilliant to be back. The first race of the season always has a few unknowns, but I can’t wait to race.”
Olympic Champion, Alistair Brownlee, who underwent ankle surgery at the end of last season, said: “Jonny and I didn’t actually get to race together much last year so it’s great that we’re both here this time. I’m happy with how things have gone recently and excited just to get out there.”
The women’s race is up first at 12:30am UK time on Saturday morning followed by the men at 3:30am. Both will be live on the BBC Red Button and online. Highlights are on BBC Two at 1pm on Sunday (10 April).
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Related:
WTS Gold Coast 2015 – in pics
2016 World Triathlon Series calendar confirmed
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The British duo will be joined by fellow male athletes Gordon Benson andTom Bishop, who will be hoping to impress the British selectors for Rio and get the third spot on the team with the Brownlees.
Advertisement
The women’s race features Jodie Stimpson and Helen Jenkins, who will be looking to impress British selectors and claim the final third team place for Rio, with Vicky Holland and Non Stanford who have already secured their Olympic spots.
Both demonstrated good form by winning gold and bronze respectively in the previous round of the Series in Abu Dhabi.
Qualification requires evidence of ability to win an individual medal in Rio, and a nomination committee will meet following the race to review performances.
Stimpson, who won in Abu Dhabi and also in the ITU World Cup the following weekend in Mooloolaba said: “This is a massive race, which is unusual this early in the season, but I have taken a lot of confidence from my first two races this year. I will put in my best performance possible on the day, that’s all you can ever ask for.”
Double ITU World Champion, Jenkins said: “I have had a great training block since Abu Dhabi and feel like I have moved my fitness on. I need to put in a performance that shows I am able to podium at Rio. It’s going to be up to the selectors to decide on the athlete they want to take.”
Both races promise to be exciting races with a strong British squad hoping for glory. The Brownlee brothers will want to set up a fast swim to ensure the pace is high right from the start. Spain’s Mario Mola is currently ranked number one in the world following his win in the opening round of the Series in Abu Dhabi.
Jonathan Brownlee, who will be hoping to emulate his victory here last year, said: “The Gold Coast race was one of my best ever performances last year so it’s brilliant to be back. The first race of the season always has a few unknowns, but I can’t wait to race.”
Olympic Champion, Alistair Brownlee, who underwent ankle surgery at the end of last season, said: “Jonny and I didn’t actually get to race together much last year so it’s great that we’re both here this time. I’m happy with how things have gone recently and excited just to get out there.”
The women’s race is up first at 12:30am UK time on Saturday morning followed by the men at 3:30am. Both will be live on the BBC Red Button and online. Highlights are on BBC Two at 1pm on Sunday (10 April).
Advertisement
Related:
WTS Gold Coast 2015 – in pics
2016 World Triathlon Series calendar confirmed
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Planning next year’s race diary? After looking at these images by photographer José Luis Hourcade you might be tempted to try Challenge Forte Village in Sardinia
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Planning next year’s race diary? After looking at these images by photographer José Luis Hourcade you might be tempted to try Challenge Forte Village in Sardinia
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When the Pro Triathlon Union launched in July last year, the frisson of optimism soon gave way to an air of scepticism. With a board hastily assembled at a closed-shop triathletes’ meeting in Bahrain, it offered little to deliver cohesion in a disparate sport.
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Long-course professionals struggling to pay their rent were irked at being asked to fork out up to $600 for membership. It took a further blow when Jan Frodeno declared he was “no fan of unions” and then the PTU’s vice president, Dirk Bockel, sent an ill-advised tweet asking Lance Armstrong for support. Had the whole thing faded away quietly, few would’ve been surprised.
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When I met Charles Adamo, the chief executive of the Pro Triathlon Organisation (PTO; note the switch from Union), it was the morning after golf’s Ryder Cup. The USA had triumphed 17-11, buoyed by the patriotic fervour of packed galleries in Minnesota. It was without the nails-to-the-quick final-day drama that has spoilt sports lovers for much of the past three decades, yet the unique allure of the biennial contest still captured imaginations on both sides of the pond. Adamo produced a newspaper with the headline: ‘The theatre of sport at its finest in the bear pit’. “This is what we need to create,” he said.
Championing new ventures doesn’t come naturally to journalists, however it didn’t take tweets from multiple Kona winners Dave Scott (“a fantastic competition”) or Chrissie Wellington (“très excited, bring on 2018!”) to convince this hack of the merits of The Collins Cup. If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, then the Ryder Cup has a devotee in the PTO every bit as passionate as the Americans hollering at Hazeltine. But where triathlon will move beyond golf is by including the rest of the world. And, thankfully, women.
New international team tri competition launched
The Collins Cup, named after Ironman founders John and Judy, is a three-way non-drafting competition: Europe versus USA versus the ‘Internationals.’ It’s akin to the Ryder Cup singles format with six men and six women from each region. Eight will be chosen from the new PTO world rankings plus four captain’s picks – which allows wriggle room to involve stars from the ITU’s World Triathlon Series. Set off at regular intervals, triathletes race head-to-head-to-head over a 3km swim, 120km bike course and 25km run. Bonus points are awarded for each 5min increment – so it doesn’t pay to milk the finish chute.
Turning long-distance triathlon into a spectator sport isn’t easy. In contrast, the real sagacity of The Collins Cup is how the intrigue builds throughout the day. Anyone who has watched the Ryder Cup scoreboard swing from red (USA) to blue (Europe) and back, will understand how it can command your attention in its vice-like grip. Moreover, the focus is on the team, so if Frodeno or Daniela Ryf disappear up the road, the contest isn’t over.
That said, golf is a behemoth compared to triathlon, built on a history of 19th-century mashies and niblicks, not neon Speedos in the 70s. Can a new competition with a complex format really thrive? Adamo points out that the Ryder Cup only prospered from 1985 when the USA started to lose, and that interest soared in Olympic basketball when the USSR inflicted Team USA’s first ever loss in Munich in 1972. His point is less about revelling in US misery, but more that the success of a tournament is driven – not just by its history – but by unashamed rivalry.
The triathlon calendar is already packed and the date (June looks favourite) will depend on which broadcaster – if any – bite. To help this, Wasserman, the world’s fourth largest sports media agency (for comparison, IMG are ranked 12th) with contracts worth $2.3billion, will act as business partners. It lends some serious financial clout.
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The PTO’s solution to ensuring a crowd is to make the pro race the showpiece of a long weekend where age-groupers race on Saturday and then join the celebrations on Sunday. For a venue, think a dedicated resort rather than busy city centre streets. It’s due to run annually from 2018, and for a sport that continually innovates, I believe this could be one of the best moves yet.