When Matt Hauser and Luke Willian step onto the Champs-Élysées, they’ll have their sights set on ending Australia’s Olympic triathlon medal drought.
Since the sport was introduced into the Olympics in 2000, no Australian man has ever stood on the podium.
But heading into the Games in form of their careers, as the top-two ranked athletes in the World Triathlon Championship Series, the pair are well positioned to break one of Australian sport’s most long-suffering records.
Overview
Since triathlon was introduced into the Olympics in 2000, the green and gold has never graced the men’s Olympic triathlon podium.
But if Matt Hauser gets his way, that’s all going to change in Paris.
The 26-year-old put his Olympic rivals on notice by winning gold at the World Triathlon Championship Series Hamburg. His victory following a second-place finish in Yokohama which sees him head to Paris in the form of his career.
Hauser has been one of the worlds most improved athletes since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a race in which he finished 24th in what was a disappointing campaign for Australia.
It was the second consecutive Games that the nation failed to win a medal and the wake-up call Hauser needed to launch an immediate campaign to lead Australia back to the top of the triathlon world.
He will become just the fifth Australian man to contest the triathlon at two Olympics, and is joined by debutants Luke Willian, Natalie Van Coevorden, and Sophie Linn.
Willian will also head into the Games in the form of his career following a remarkable rise to the top of the World Triathlon Championship Series rankings.
After missing out on selection for Tokyo in 2020, he took things into his own hands this time around, producing a powerhouse performance to claim bronze in the World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama and secure his spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
His eighth-place finish in Cagliari and 11th in Hamburg solidified his lead in the series rankings, with teammate Hauser trailing closely in second.
The men it seems are turning the tide and neither have shied away from the fact that they want to be the ones to lead the breakthrough by securing a spot on the podium in Paris.
Ones to Watch
Australian
Australia’s medal hopes will largely rest on the shoulder of its men.
Hauser signalled his Olympic admission, winning gold in Hamburg. Pairing that with his silver medal in Yokohama suggests he could be peaking at the perfect time.
Willian’s powerhouse performance to claim bronze, and his Paris 2024 spot, in Yokohama shows he capable of producing a podium performance when it matters most.
Australia will head into the mixed team relay ranked fifth, with a track record of team success. The quartet previously claimed silver together in the 2022 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series in Hamburg and will be aiming for even greater success in Paris.
International
Any discussion of potential winners in the men’s event should begin with the reigning champion, Kristian Blummenfelt. The Norwegian, along with Tokyo 2020 silver and bronze medallists, Alex Yee (GBR) and Hayden Wilde (NZL), are expected to be contenders once again.
The French men, benefiting from home ground advantage, are also key challengers: current World Champion Dorian Coninx, former World Champion Leo Bergere, and Pierre Le Corre.
The host’s chances are further bolster in the women’s race with Cassandre Beaugrand and Emma Lombardi. Current World Champion Beth Potter (GBR) and her teammate Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) are also ones-to-watch.
In the mixed team relay, reigning Olympic champions Great Britain are the leading favourites, alongside Germany and France.
Sport Format
Both men’s and women’s individual triathlons are a single race that combines a 1500m swim, a 40km bike, and a 10km run (in that order).
The mixed team relay debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Games and return in Paris. Teams consist of four athletes, two men and two women. Each competitor completes a 300m swim, 6.8km bike, and 2km run before tagging their teammate, who then initiates their portion of the race.
All three events will be staged in the heart of Paris, with the famed Pont Alexandre III bridge and the Seine River serving as the location for the swim stage.
Competition Schedule
Men’s Individual: Tuesday, July 30 – 4pm AEST
Women’s Individual: Wednesday, July 31 – 4pm AEST
Mixed Team Relay: Thursday, August 5 – 4pm AEST
