A nine-strong Australian team has been named to race for world title honours at October’s World Triathlon Para Championships in Torremolinos, Spain.
Featuring four world championship medallists with fourteen podiums between them, the team will be capable and confident of challenging for more silverware in Spain.
Paris 2024 Paralympic champion Lauren Parker (PTWC) spearheads the team, looking to claim her fifth consecutive World Triathlon Para Championship crown. After earning bronze on her Gold Coast debut in 2018, she secured gold medals in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Also carrying world champion honours into the event is Sally Pilbeam (PTS4), who claimed back-to-back world titles in 2014 and 2015. This year marks her tenth appearance at the World Triathlon Para Championships, the most of any Australian athlete. Along with her two gold medals, she boasts a hat-trick of silvers from 2016, 2017, and 2018, as well as a bronze from last year’s event in Pontevedra, Spain.
Anu Francis (PTS2) will be aiming to extend her perfect record of podium finishes at the championships. She claimed silver at last year’s event in Pontevedra, Spain, following up her impressive bronze medal debut in 2022.
Completing the line-up of world championship medallists is Jeremy Peacock (PTS4), who secured a bronze medal in his 2022 debut. This year, he competes in his third world championship, hoping to add to his tally.
Liam Twomey (PTS4) and David Bryant (PTS5) are set for their fourth World Triathlon Para Championships, while Jack Howell (PTS5) and Maggie Sandles (PTVI), alongside Lauren Sprague (Guide), will compete in their third and second championships, respectively.
The World Triathlon Para Championships will be held as part of the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Torremolinos, Spain, from October 17-20.
The event marks the first time since the 2019 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Lausanne that all five categories—Elite, Para, Under 23, Junior, and Age Group—will crown world champions at the same event.
Torremolinos will also host the first-ever World Triathlon Para Mixed Relay Championships, after two years of being held as an open race at the Finals. Australia had a strong showing in both open races, winning gold in 2022 in Abu Dhabi and finishing fifth in 2023 in Pontevedra.
World Triathlon Para Championships – Australian Team:
PTWC – Lauren Parker (NSW)
PTS2 – Anu Francis(SA)
PTS4 – Sally Pilbeam (WA)
PTVI – Maggie Sandles (QLD)
Guide – Lauren Sprague (QLD)
PTS4 – Jeremy Peacock (VIC)
PTS4 – Liam Twomey (VIC)
PTS5 – David Bryant (WA)
PTS5 – Jack Howell (VIC)
