While Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) stole the show in the men’s race, logging a third win in Mexico, one aspect that characterised the 2026 Huatulco World Cup was the rise of young talent. Behind Mislawchuk, for instance, everyone else that finished in the top-7 was at least 10 years his junior, being born in either 2004 or 2005. Moreover several athletes, such as Braxton Legg (USA) in 7th and 2022 World Junior Championships medallist Toby Powers (AUS) in 10th, recorded their first forays into a World Cup top-10.
Another rising youngster to have a fantastic race in Huatulco was Brazil’s Vinicius Avi Santana as he won a maiden World Cup medal in 3rd place. Santana had hit the ground running in 2026, claiming multiple Americas Cup medals. “Starting the year well certainly helps to build confidence,” he said, ”and it is important so I can always aim for a bigger goal, always trying to improve this result.”
Santana’s breakthrough comes on the heels of the stellar international form of his compatriots and World Cup winners Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) and Manoel Messias (BRA), both of whom have also medalled in the WTCS. How much has having them as role medals helped Santana on his triathlon journey thus far?
“Since I started triathlon, I’ve always watched great races of these athletes. A lot of times I went to practice after that very inspired by them, wanting to perform like them, and that was very important to me. I saw Miguel also get on the podium here in Huatulco, which showed me that this result was possible.”
Meanwhile, the women’s race was similarly marked by newcomers taking the top positions. Behind home star Ana Maria Valentina Torres Gomez (MEX), who flew to a first ever World Cup win, Kelly Wetteland (USA) charged through to grab a maiden medal of her own.
The top swimmer in Huatulco, Wetteland felt like something was in the offing coming into the race. “I think a combination of the swim confidence I got from Yokohama (her WTCS debut) and a healthy amount of delusion made me believe that anything could happen on Sunday.”
Any hint of delusion came from a justified place, for Wetteland has had a whirlwind start to her international career over the past 18 months. A win at the Americas Cup in Gulfport earlier this year has been another high point to go with her WTCS bow in Japan and her Huatulco display.
“This year has been a dream,” she said, “and I’m really grateful for every race and experience. I see this season as my breakout year and another step in the ladder of where I hope to go. Being a product of the NCAA triathlon programme, I hope that my international career sets an example that elite triathlon development is possible while being a student and part of a collegiate team. In short, I hope this season so far is a springboard for future racing and is the start of an amazing journey!”
One athlete at the other end of the experience spectrum made a long-awaited comeback to international racing in Huatulco. Elizabeth Bravo (ECU) won the bronze medal at last year’s edition, but injury subsequently forced her out of action, with the sole exception of the Bolivarian Games in December.
“The past year has been one of the most challenging periods of my career,” she explained. “I was dealing with an injury that kept me away from racing for a long time and forced me to be patient and rethink many aspects of my preparation. Returning to competition in Huatulco was very meaningful for me because it represented much more than just another race; it was proof that all the work behind the scenes, together with the sacrifices made by my family and support team, had been worthwhile.”
“At this stage of my career, I feel highly motivated and grateful to still be able to compete at this level. My goals moving forward are to continue improving, stay healthy and consistent, and keep earning points toward Olympic qualification. I want to enjoy the process, represent my country with pride, and show that resilience is just as important as performance in elite sport.”
On her top-level return, Bravo ended up in 9th place, continuing a fine run of success in Huatulco. She has appeared at every iteration of the event since 2019, missing the top-10 on only two occasions in that time.
“Huatulco has become a very special race for me. I've been coming here for many years, and every edition brings great memories and valuable lessons. It is a demanding course, especially because of the heat and humidity, but those are precisely the conditions that suit my strengths as an athlete.”
“I also really enjoy the atmosphere of the event. The local support, the energy on the course and the familiarity that comes from returning year after year make it feel like a second home on the race calendar. It's a race that constantly pushes you to your limits, and I think that's one of the reasons I keep coming back and performing well here.”