This year’s Hong Kong World Cup was a reemergence of sorts for two veterans of the sport. For David Castro Fajardo (ESP), a bronze medal marked a return to the podium for the first time since his win in Napier back at the start of 2025. Since then, he has endured a rough ride. That said, having also finished 4th in Tongyeong a week earlier, Castro now appears to have turned a corner.
“I’m feeling very happy,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t get good results, and given the high calibre of athletes in Spain, I missed out on competing in World Cups and World Triathlon Championship Series events. I’m really pleased with how the year is ending and that I’m back to racing. I’ll see how the year wraps up and where I stand in the rankings heading into next year.”
“And, of course, if I have any chance to contend for the Olympic Games, I’ll do my absolute best to seize it.”
While there was not to be a podium finish for 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Henri Schoeman (RSA), Hong Kong nonetheless represented a first short-course start on the world level since Paris 2024. Having placed 2nd at the Africa Championships a month earlier, do these represent the first steps towards LA 2028 for the South African?
“In some ways, yes. I think I’ve reached a point where I’m starting to look at what’s next and what the future might hold. I’ve spent the last few years exploring different challenges in the sport, particularly moving towards longer-distance racing, and that’s been an exciting journey in its own right. I’ve enjoyed testing myself in a different environment and discovering what I’m capable of beyond the Olympic-distance format.”
“That said, the competitive side of me hasn’t disappeared. I still love racing, I still love competing at the highest level, and I still have that fire. The possibility of LA 2028 is certainly something I’ve been thinking about, but I’m approaching it one step at a time. I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on myself or make commitments before I know exactly what that journey looks like.”
“For now, I’m enjoying getting back out there, testing myself against some of the best in the world and seeing where it takes me.”
Schoeman’s return has acquired a new level of poignancy in light of his recent revelations of his struggles since the 2016 WTCS Final in Cozumel. That day, Jonathan Brownlee famously collapsed while leading, only to be thrown over the finish line by his brother Alistair. Meanwhile, Schoeman, who had metered his efforts perfectly in brutal conditions, came through to take a massive victory.
“For almost 10 years, I’ve carried a lot of things surrounding that race that very few people knew about. What happened afterwards, the abuse, the messages, the death threats and the impact it had on me and my family, I think for a long time I just tried to bury it, move on and get on with life.”
“In many ways, I felt like I had to. I didn’t want to give it more attention, and I certainly didn’t want it to define me or my career. But I also think that by not speaking about it, I was allowing that experience to remain something that I carried quietly in the background.”
“Finally sharing my side of the story was incredibly liberating. It wasn’t about trying to change people’s opinions, point fingers or take anything away from anyone else. It was simply about telling my story, being honest about what happened and finally feeling comfortable enough to own my experience.”
“The response has honestly been quite overwhelming. The amount of support, kindness and messages from people sharing their own experiences has been something I never expected. It has reminded me that we’re all carrying things that people don’t necessarily see.”
“Has it lifted a weight off my shoulders? Absolutely.”
“I don’t think you realise how much something has affected you until you finally allow yourself to talk about it. I feel like I’ve made peace with a part of my past that I’ve never really been able to properly process.”
“And I think that’s important for what comes next. Whether that’s in triathlon, competing, or life outside the sport, I feel like I’m entering this next chapter with a much clearer head. I want to enjoy the sport again, embrace the challenges and not feel like I’m carrying the same baggage into everything I do.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Britain’s Eve Whitaker came home in 15th place on her first World Cup start in Hong Kong.
“A few mixed emotions after my World Cup debut!” she said afterwards. “The swim was pretty choppy with a fair current, which tested a few skills I hadn't really had to put into practice on race day before. I was really pleased to have a strong swim and come out in the leading bunch.”
“After an initial chasing lap to make up some ground to the first few athletes, the bike settled into a bit of a roll around, despite the technical course. I managed to position myself well into T2 and come off the bike first, which was pretty exciting (and a nice little surprise)! From there I tried to stick with the front runners, but unfortunately the legs had other ideas and it turned into a bit of a trundle to the finish.”
“All in all, I really enjoyed the experience. Obviously I'd have loved to finish a little stronger, but it's been a great first taste of World Cup racing and I've come away with plenty to learn from and work on for next time.”
It should also be noted that this race was not easy on many of the younger athletes starting. Only one woman in Whitaker’s cohort or younger otherwise finished in the top-40 on a day when experience tended to come in handy.
Taking a wider lens, Hong Kong was also the latest chapter in what has been a hugely successful season for the Brit. Alongside Europe Cup medals and strong results at the Europe Championships and World U23 Championships, Whitaker has a WTCS debut looming around the corner.
“This season has been pretty far from what I initially had in mind,” she acknowledged. “After two fairly tough years with injuries, my main aim coming into the season was simply to get back racing, enjoy it and, most importantly, finish healthy. So everything else has really been a bonus!”
“To have been selected for championship racing was already exciting, and to then pick up some results along the way, particularly off relatively minimal training, has been a bit of a surprise. It's been so much fun to just be back on the start line consistently and enjoying racing again. To top it all off with my first WTCS selection at the end of the year was the cherry on top.”
Finally, there were three athletes from the top-8 in Hong Kong that claimed personal best finishes. One was Whitaker’s teammate, Bethany Cook (GBR), who placed 5th, improving on her previous best of 7th in Tongyeong. Nils Serre Gehri (FRA) was also another to step up at the pointy end of the finishing order as he scored a first World Cup win.
Completing this trio was Heidi Juránková (CZE). The Czech athlete came home in 7th place, slotting a World Cup personal best alongside a Europe Cup win and a WTCS personal best in her past three performances. What has been the key to her recent form?
“Honestly, if I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m the queen of consistency and that’s where the magic really happens for me. Spending so many hours training on my own and writing my own training with my dad gives me the space to truly listen to my body, embrace the grind, and stay completely locked in on my own journey without comparing myself to anyone else. When I stand on that start line, I feel a sense of peace and gratitude knowing me and my dad as my coach have given absolutely everything to get there.”
Juránková also described her win in Ibiza from the start of the month as “a huge confirmation that the hard work really does pay off.”
“It was such a special moment that I’ll never forget, especially after a tough start to the season. I'm still learning so much with every race, and this proved to me that sports are full of ups and downs.”
Considering the form she is in, it would not be a surprise to see a few more ups on Juránková’s horizon.
