There was no shortage of drama during the 2024 World Para Series. Having started in Australia back in March before concluding in Canada in June, the Series consisted of four events ahead of the climaxes of the para triathlon season: the Paris Paralympic Games and the standalone World Championships in Torremolinos. Paris proved a pervasive influence throughout the Series as each race threatened to upend the Paralympic qualification rankings and make or break Paralympic dreams. At the same time, independently of the race to Paris, the Series delivered a smorgasbord of intriguing action.

Devonport

The season opener took place in the familiar destination of Devonport, Australia. In an early instance of athletes raising their game in the final dash to Paris, Giovanni Achenza H1 beat Louis Noel H2 to gold in the men’s PTWC event. In doing so, the 2019 European champion nabbed his first ever win in the World Para Series. Eva Maria Moral Pedrero H1 came out on top in the women’s event with a sparkling performance.

In the PTS2 category, Mark Barr was in a class of his own while Anu Francis gave the home fans something to cheer for with a gold medal for the Australian team. Grace Brimelow added to the home success as the teenager struck gold in the women’s PTS4 event. Born in 2007, Brimelow is among the youngest ever winners in the World Para Series.

Nico Van Der Burgt triumphed in the men’s PTS3 race, denying the man that would become world champion at the end of the season, Henry Urand. Cassie Cava secured the women’s PTS3 gold while Michael Taylor won a classy gold in the men’s PTS5 event. Anja Renner B3 came out on top in the women’s PTVI category.

Perhaps more than any team, Paris was at the forefront of the French attention. Both Gwladys Lemoussu (PTS5) and Antoine Perel B1 (PTVI) were therefore buoyed by victories in Devonport as they proved their fitness ahead of the home Paralympics.

Yokohama

The season then moved on to the old favourite Yokohama in May, a rare instance in which the World Para Series runs parallel with the WTCS. This new dimension to the competition tends to bring out the best of the stars of para triathlon and this year was no different. The reigning world champion Geert Schipper H2 made his Series bow for 2024 with a blistering performance to take gold in the men’s PTWC event. His fellow 2023 world champion Lauren Parker H1 was likewise dominant in the women’s PTWC event.

Barr won again in the men’s PTS2 event, proving his form beyond all doubt. His compatriot, Chris Hammer, laid down a marker with a win of his own in the men’s PTS5 event. Given Hammer beat Stefan Daniel by only 5 seconds in Yokohama, their respective performances set the tone for the battles to come later in the year in which Hammer would claim Paralympic gold (after Daniel crashed) and Daniel would storm to the world title. Elsewhere, Hailey Danz prevailed over Devonport winner Francis in the PTS2 event, while Kelly Elimlinger continued the American hot streak with her PTS4 gold medal.

There was more French promise in this early part of the season as Michael Herter (PTS3) and Alexis Hanquinquant (PTS4) doubled the French tally of Series gold medals for the year. Separately, Claire Cashmore won the PTS5 race and Anna Plotnikova took the PTS3 gold.

Finally, Dave Ellie B3 was imperious in the men’s PTVI race. The world champion had suffered heartbreak in previous Paralympic Games but he showed in Yokohama that he was determined to bend this year to his will, such was the relentless manner of his racing. In addition, Francesca Tarantello B3 backed up the PTVI world title she claimed in 2023 by beating the illustrious Susana Rodriguez B1 once again, thereby intensifying their impending clash in Paris.

Swansea

June arrived and with it came the penultimate stop of the World Para Series. Interestingly, all of the victors in Swansea went on to medal at the Paralympics, suggesting that it proved a particularly useful preparatory race.

The double Paralympic champion Jetze Plat H2 (PTWC) used it as a tune-up before going on to become the only para triathlete to win three gold medals in para triathlon at the Games. Mohamed Lahna (PTS2) similarly came out on top ahead of Swansea before making Paralympic history of his own in Paris. His medal for Team USA made him the only athlete in triathlon history to win Olympic or Paralympic medals for two different countries; Lahna also medalled for Morocco in 2016.

Max Gelhaar beat Daniel Molina in the PTS3 event in Swansea, although Molina would get him back with his Paris victory. Ellis again (PTVI), Carson Clough (PTS4) and Ronan Cordeiro (PTS5) also converted victories in Swansea to Paris hardware. In doing so, the latter also became Brazil’s first ever Paralympic medallist in the sport.

In the women’s races, Allysa Seely struck PTS2 gold while Cava claimed her second win of the season in the PTS3 class. In a battle of the Brits, Hannah Moore beat the subsequent Paralympic champion Megan Richter in the PTS4 event. Another British athlete furthered the home team’s success as Cashmore won again in the PTS5 event. There was also success from across the Irish Sea as Chloe MacCombe B3 dazzled in the women’s PTVI competition.

Montreal

A week later, the Series came to an end in Montreal. The event marked the final shot for athletes to advance in the Paralympic qualification rankings and a number of individuals had arrived in the last chance saloon. To compound the tricky situation, rain struck, leaving an otherwise fast track slick and perilous in places.

One man that made no mistake in Montreal was Giuseppe Romele H1 as he roared into Paralympic qualification with a win. The future world champion Urand was another to shine, this time in the men’s PTS3 event, as he claimed a maiden Series victory. Lahna and Hanquinquant won again in the PTS2 and PTS4 classes, respectively, while Hammer enjoyed a more comprehensive victory over his great rival Daniel, this time by 58 seconds. Thibaut Rigaudeau B3 also threw his name into the ring as a contender for a home medal in Paris with his PTVI win in Montreal.

Rodriguez got one back over Tarantello in the PTVI category while Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas made a splash with a win for Mexico in the PTS3 race. As was the case in Devonport and Swansea, there was a star turn by a home athlete in Montreal as Kamylle Frenette won in the women’s PTS5 category.

Montreal also saw the defending Paralympic champion Kendall Gretsch H2 produce her first Series win of the season. Her triumph provided a timely boost in her year as she went on to win Paralympic silver and the world title. Her teammate Seely came out on top again in the PTS2 event while Elmlinger (PTS4) contributed another gold medal to the bulging American haul. She relegated Richter to her second silver medal of the Series, although Richter would have the last laugh in Paris.

The excitement did not stop there with epic clashes and inspiring victories aplenty following in both Paris and Torremolinos. For many, form in the Series proved a strong indicator of their performances at the two major championships. For example, the likes of Hanquinquant, Ellis, Rodriguez, Parker and Plat added Paralympic and world titles to the World Para Series gold medals they claimed earlier in the season. At the same time, others such as Richter, Molina, Grace Norman and Elise Marc powered to their respective titles without Series golds from earlier in their campaign.

Next season will see an identical World Para Series schedule. The hope therefore will be that it brings the same thrills as the most recent Series. Given the ever-deepening pool of talent in the para triathlon scene, chances are it will somehow be even better.