One of the headline stories of Haikou was Sophie Malowiecki (AUS) powering to a maiden World Cup podium. The Australian did so with a set-up that differs considerably to that of her rivals. In a similar fashion to Jawad Abdelmoula (MAR), bronze medallist at last week’s Lanzarote World Cup, Malowiecki balances international triathlon with full-time work, in her case as a risk consultant.
“My Monday to Friday is quite crazy. It’s kind of like when you’re in secondary school, just training before and after work (sometimes a double session before). It largely is ok because I’m a morning person. It also stops me from wasting time sitting at a cafe and being unproductive.”
“I’m quite lucky to have a very understanding and flexible team, which I know isn’t always the case in consulting. I’m in the Risk team at EY; we essentially do internal auditing for both the private and public sector.”
Malowiecki came into this race after a 4th place finish at the Napier Oceania Cup (and a bronze medal at the Oceania Sprint Championships held at the same race). In a reversal, the winner in Napier, Desirae Ridenour (CAN) took 4th place in Haikou.
“I'm pretty happy with how the season has started,” said Ridenour. “The first couple races of the season can always be a bit nerve-wracking as you never know if your winter training is going to pay off or show in the race. For me, winning Napier was mostly a relief. Even though it wasn't a World Cup this year, I felt pressure to defend my title and prove once again that my results last season weren't a fluke.”
“I'm very content with my 4th place at Haikou. It was bittersweet falling short of the podium. I was a bit upset with myself afterwards not being able to respond to a surge on the second lap of the run, however that's racing. At the end of the day, I gave it my best effort and gained some extra motivation for my next race. Overall, I'm pleased with both races and am happy there is room for improvement as I build into the season.”
“After last year's success, I started the season feeling quite a bit of pressure from myself to keep my good performances rolling into the 2026 season. However, after racing Haikou I'm feeling more confident in my abilities. I think I have finally convinced myself that I am good enough to be at the front of the race or contend for the win and am capable of executing a solid performance no matter how the race plays out or how I'm feeling on the day.”
There was another first in the women’s race as Naomi Ruff (USA) logged a maiden top-10 finish in 8th place. “I’m really proud of the progress I’ve made and excited to have earned a top-10 finish this past weekend. My passion for the sport continues to grow. And this result has only motivated me to keep working towards my goals.”
Ruff has been knocking on the door of the top-10 lately. A 16th place finish in Lanzarote came after results of 13th in Tongyeong and 14th in Huatulco last year. We asked what lessons she has taken away from those experiences going into Haikou.
“I’ve learned how important mental toughness is, especially the ability to adapt to whatever situations or conditions come my way. It allows me to stay calm, focused, and prepared no matter what.”
“This weekend was a good reminder of that. My bike didn’t arrive until the day before the race, so I missed the course preview and quite a few bike sessions. But moments like that reinforce how important it is to control what you can control and keep a positive mindset. At the end of the day, your attitude and response are what make the difference.”
“This was my fourth World Cup to date - my second one this season after Lanzarote - and I’m really excited to see how much more I can grow as the season continues. I’m so grateful for all the support I have around me!”
Meanwhile, an athlete of interest from the Asian triathlon scene was back on a World Cup start line for the first time since 2024. Bailee Brown (HKG) narrowly missed out on the Asian New Flag slot in the race to qualify for Paris 2024. However, prior to Haikou we had not seen her on the world stage since shortly after the Games as her 2025 campaign was wrecked by seven months in hospital due to an infection.
“My 2025 season was a challenge.” (Editor’s note: this is an understatement. Additional editor’s warning: some slightly graphic details follow.)
“In late December 2024, I was running and fell on the trails and my finger broke/ripped open on a rock. My first surgery could not have gone worse! My nerve got sliced then got severely infected during the two weeks after the procedure. I went to get a second opinion at a different hospital which led to an emergency surgery followed by three more major surgeries throughout the past year while needing IV antibiotics three times a day!”
“The bacteria has eaten all my cartilage so I’m now left with a frozen finger, but it’s still on my hand which is what matters! It’s funny how something so small can take such a toll.”
“I’ve been out of the water for the majority of 2025, so the races that I did do were a very uncomfortable experience! I was able to compete at the (Hong Kong) National Games in November and walk away with a highlight from what felt like a very bleak season. I’m happy to report that I’m back to a regular training schedule and have races lined up to look forward to in 2026.”
“I’m grateful that Haikou was close to home and that I was able to get on the start line, it’s a privilege to race with such strong athletes. Overall, this World Cup was bittersweet. It was exciting and has reminded me of what higher level racing feels like, but I was disappointed in being so close to the front pack and missing it. It’s hard to walk away with a result that doesn’t feel like the effort I’ve been putting in (Brown finished 23rd), yet I do believe it’s a step in the right direction.”
“What I am proud of is growing out of my fear in the water. I lost a lot of confidence in my swimming last year, so this was a race that helped build it back up. I enjoyed the swim leg, which is something I can take with me into the next training block and to the start line in Chengdu.”
Meanwhile, one to really have nailed the start of 2026 is Germany’s Tim Hellwig. The former WTCS race winner clocked a second World Cup medal in a row in Haikou following his exploits on the other side of the world in Lanzarote. Hellwig gave an insight into what his turnaround looked like between the two events. Far from it being a smooth transition to set up his success, his week was beset by one major problem as well as some serious travelling.
“After the race in Lanzarote on Saturday I finished the week with an easy long ride on Sunday. We left Lanzarote on Monday and flew to Frankfurt, but unfortunately our luggage and bike didn’t come with us.”
“On Tuesday we drove two hours to our training centre in Saarbrücken, where we spent the whole day organising all the race gear and setting up a second race bike. That evening we drove back to Frankfurt. On Wednesday we took the flight to China and arrived in Haikou on Thursday lunchtime. I then did a bit of easy training, mainly to set up the bike position on the new bike. Friday was the course familiarisation and the race was on Saturday.”
“There wasn’t much actual training that week – there was a lot to organise instead. I tried to stay relaxed, trust the strong form from Lanzarote and just make the best out of the situation.”
The last time we saw Hellwig open his season with two podiums was in 2023 (then he won back-to-back Africa Cups). From there he enjoyed a great season, sealing Olympic qualification at the first opportunity and claiming the silver medal at the WTCS Final.
“It’s always good to have some form early in the season, so I’m happy with how the situation is, especially considering my current run volume and how well my body and knee are handling the racing. I’m still focusing mainly on the process towards the bigger goals in the middle of the year, but it always gives you confidence to have a good season opener.”
The Haikou bronze medallist Hugo Milner (GBR) has likewise been on the comeback trail after missing the second half of 2025 with a stress fracture. He nonetheless came into this weekend's event buoyed by recent success on the cross-country circuit.
“I’ve spent a lot of time this winter working on my swim and bike ability, but I have also worked on my running strength. I feel confident in my running ability and I’m really excited to push the limits this year. XC allows me to test my form and shape when there are no triathlon races to do and I’m looking forward to more running competitions soon alongside triathlon.”
A head-turning 13:51 5km run split in Haikou indicated that his cross-country form has certainly translated across to the blue carpet.
In another parallel with Hellwig, Milner had some bike drama of his own prior to the race in Haikou. A crash in the week leading up to the event left him with a slight shoulder niggle that affected his swim, costing him a shot at making the front pack. In general, though, Milner enters 2026 optimistic about the work he has done in the first discipline.
“My swim has definitely improved this winter. I don’t think I’m swimming much faster, but I’m certainly more efficient at faster speeds. It’s frustrating to not be able to show my progress on the swim in Haikou, but it’s a long season and I’m sure there will be plenty more opportunities to show this.”