Australia’s elite triathletes are set to take on one of the sport’s most iconic races this weekend, with a powerful squad named for the World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama in Japan – headlined by four reigning world champions across Olympic and Paralympic performance pathways.
Leading the charge are World Triathlon champion Matt Hauser, alongside Para World Champions Lauren Parker (PTWC) and Anu Francis (PTS2), with reigning U23 World Champion Richelle Hill adding further strength as she steps up to elite racing in 2026.
Hauser returns to World Triathlon Championship Series racing for the first time since claiming the 2025 world title on home soil in Wollongong. He is joined in the elite men’s field by Brayden Mercer, Brandon Copeland, Bradley Course and Luke Willian, while Hill will represent Australia in the elite women’s race as one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects making her transition to the top level.
On the Para triathlon side, Parker and Francis headline a talented Australian line-up, with Parker continuing her dominance in the PTWC class, returning to triathlon after representing Australia at the Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina earlier this year. Parker became the eighth Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, competing in the both the Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon events. The 5-time Para Triathlon World Champion and Paralympic Gold and Silver medalist arrives in Yokohama as the one to beat in the PTWC classification. While Francis arrives as the reigning PTS2 World Champion after an undefeated 2025 season, form she has carried onto her early season races in 2026.
Yokohama has become a happy hunting ground for Australia in recent years, with Hauser delivering standout performances on the Japanese course, while Australia’s Para athletes have consistently challenged on the world stage.
Hauser arrives as the sport’s benchmark athlete after a breakthrough 2025 campaign that saw him become the first Australian man in 20 years to win the World Triathlon Championship Series crown. The Queenslander also owns a strong record in Yokohama, winning gold in 2025 after previously claiming silver medals in 2023 and 2024.
“There will be people coming after me from here on in towards LA 2028,” Hauser said.
“I just need to embrace that challenge and keep fighting the good fight.
“Yokohama is always very competitive, it is a fast and technical course.”
Willian also returns in strong form following his victory at last weekend’s World Triathlon Cup in Chengdu, underlining his consistency on the international circuit.
The Para triathlon team will also be aiming to build momentum early in the season, with a mix of experienced performers and rising talent set to compete across multiple sport classes.
The World Triathlon Championship Series is the premier annual international triathlon circuit, bringing together the world’s best athletes across a season-long battle for world championship points. Yokohama traditionally attracts one of the strongest fields of the year and serves as a key early-season test on the road to the 2026 Championship Finals.
All races will take place in Yokohama, Japan on Saturday, May 16.
The 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama will be live and on-demand exclusively on TriathlonLive.tv.
Teams
Elite Men:
Matt Hauser
Brayden Mercer
Brandon Copeland
Bradley Course
Luke Willian
Elite Women:
Richelle Hill
Para athletes:
Anu Francis
Lauren Parker
Jack Howell
David Bryant
Matthew Engesser
Jeremy Peacock
Grace Brimelow
Sam Harding (guide Aaron Royle)
Caroline Baird (guide Sophie Walker)
Maggie Sandals (guide Lauren Sprague)
