Australia’s Para triathlon team will kick off their 2026 international season on 13 March, as Devonport once again welcomes the opening race of the World Triathlon Para Series.
The coastal Tasmanian venue has long been a proving ground for Australia’s strongest Para athletes and this year’s start list is stacked. Many of the athletes lining up, last competed together at the World Triathlon Para Championships in Wollongong in October, where Australia crowned two World Champions, secured multiple podiums and a silver medal in the Mixed Team Relay.
In 2026, Australia also celebrates the return of two exciting additions:
- Nic Beveridge (PTWC) – the three‑time Paralympian returns after a break from the sport, adding significant firepower to the wheelchair category.
- Jack Gibson (PTS5) – the teenage standout has already claimed the 2026 Australian Para Triathlon Championship title after his rapid rise after stepping up from PTS3 to PTS5 this season.
Australia will field six defending champions from last year’s Devonport event, making the home‑team narrative one of depth, experience, and emerging talent.
Athletes to Watch
PTS2
Anu Francis
The current World Champion and world no.1 delivered a perfect 2025 season, winning all five races she started. As the defending Devonport champion, Francis enters 2026 as the benchmark in the PTS2 field.
Thomas Goodman
Ranked 5th in the world, Goodman returns as the defending Devonport champion. His 2025 season began strongly with wins in Tasmania and Mooloolaba, establishing him as one of Australia’s most reliable performers.
PTS4
Jeremy Peacock
The reigning Devonport champion returns after a standout 2025 season that included silver in the Mixed Relay at the World Championships. Ranked 5th in the world, Peacock will again be one of the athletes to beat.
Matthew Engesser
Last year’s surprise package, Engesser finished 2nd in Devonport on debut at just 17 years old. With a top‑10 finish at his maiden World Championships, he’ll be eyeing the top step this time around.
PTS5
Jack Howell
The world’s top‑ranked PTS5 athlete returns as the defending Devonport champion. After a flawless 2025 season in which he podiumed at every race and finished runner‑up at the World Championships, Howell enters as the clear favourite.
Grace Brimelow
Another defending Devonport champion, Brimelow backed up her 2025 win with victory in Mooloolaba, a podium in Yokohama, and silver at the World Championships, establishing herself as one of the fiercest competitors in the classification.
Jack Gibson
The 16‑year‑old stormed to the National Championship title in St Kilda in January, his first season in the PTS5 classification. A multiple national champion in PTS3 and the 2025 Brett Stibners Award recipient, Gibson steps into WTPS racing with serious momentum.
David Bryant
Currently ranked 7th in the world, Bryant’s consistency continues to shine. A top‑ten finish in Wollongong, an Oceania title in Mooloolaba, and a Para Cup podium in Magog sets him up for another big season in 2026.
PTWC
Nic Beveridge
Australia’s three‑time Paralympian and 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medalist makes a highly anticipated return. After finishing 3rd in Devonport in 2024, Beveridge reunites with coach Chris Rawling and returns hungry for more international success.
PTVI
Sam Harding
Harding comes back as the defending Devonport champion with a string of 2025 podium finishes behind him, including wins in Mooloolaba and a podium in Taranto. A 4th place in Wollongong capped a strong year for the dual Paralympian.
Maggie Sandles
After finishing 2nd in Devonport last year, Sandles converted her early‑season form into a win in Mooloolaba and a podium in Yokohama. She was also instrumental in Australia’s Mixed Relay silver in Wollongong.
Caroline Baird
Baird’s consistency saw her finish 4th in Devonport before claiming silver in Mooloolaba and a top‑10 result at the World Championships. She returns with valuable experience and upward trajectory.
Devonport has long been one of Australia’s most iconic Para triathlon venues, and the 2026 edition promises to launch a new season with a compelling mix of returning champions, rising stars, and seasoned Paralympic performers.
With Paris 2024 now behind them and LA 2028 building on the horizon, the race in Tasmania marks the first chance for athletes to set their tone for the year and for Australia’s deep squad to once again prove why it remains one of the world’s Para triathlon powerhouses.
Stay tuned to our AusTriathlon social media channels for updates over the course of the event. The World Triathlon Para Series race is also set to live stream across the Devonport Triathlon YouTube Channel.
