To crown a year in which Para Triathlon has risen to new heights, a series of heavyweight bouts are on the cards at this week’s World Championships in Wollongong. Such was the success of Para Triathlon last year, particularly with the thrilling races on offer at the Paris Paralympic Games, it was hard to imagine how the sport could top it. Yet with loaded classes, deepening rivalries and all-time greats to savour, the rise has not slowed. All that and more will be on display over the one-lap 750m swim, four-lap 20km bike and three-lap 5km run in Wollongong, and you can catch it all on TriathlonLive on Friday 17th October with the first races starting from 07:30 (local time; 22:30 CEST on Thursday).
PTWC
In the absence of the past two world champions – Jetze Plat and Geert Schipper – the men’s PTWC class is wide open. Thomas Fruehwirth H1 (AUT) claimed the European title in Besancon and is perhaps the favourite with compatriot Florian Brungraber H2, but an impressive field means that even making the podium will be a serious achievement. Howie Sanborn H1 (USA) and Jumpei Kimura H1 (JPN) can always be counted on for big performances, as their string of World Para Series medals attests, while Louis Noel H2 (FRA) and Joshua Landmann H2 (GBR) are also in the hunt. The PTWC class is perhaps the most lung-busting in triathlon, and it will require some crazy power to come out on top this week.
In the women’s race, Wollongong will have no shortage of meaning for Lauren Parker H1 (AUS). Not only is this a home stage on which to dazzle, this is her chance to get back on the right course after she took bronze in Torremolinos having taken a well-earned post-Paralympic reset.
Indeed, the Paralympic champion already has wins in Devonport, Yokohama and Montreal this year, showing she is in no mood to play. Significantly, last year’s world champion, USA's Kendall Gretsch, is also absent, but Parker will not be untested. Jessica Ferreira H1 (BRA) also beat Parker to silver last year and is ready to stun everyone in Wollongong.
PTS2
The clear favourite in the men’s PTS2 class is Wim De Paepe (BEL). The reigning world champion is unbeaten since Torremolinos, notching World Para Series wins in Yokohama and Montreal in addition to the European title. He’s in the best form of his career and it is hard to see past him. Nevertheless, Jules Ribstein (FRA) knows what it takes to be world champion while Mohamed Lahna (USA) and Lionel Morales (ESP) are canny racers that could throw De Paepe off his game.
On the surface, the women’s PTS2 race is shaping up to be a duel between Allysa Seely (USA) and Hailey Danz (USA): the world champion vs the Paralympic champion. One hint of mystery comes from the fact that Danz has not raced internationally since winning in Paris last year, making her form tricky to gauge. However, this might not be an all-American story; could this be the year of Anu Francis (AUS)? Having crushed the Oceania Championships and been unstoppable at the World Para Series races in Devonport, Yokohama and Montreal, Francis has a perfect record in 2025. Can she apply the finishing touch to a picture-perfect year in Wollongong?
PTS3
Henry Urand (GBR) is back to defend the gold he won so stylishly in Torremolinos, and the omens are looking good. He won the Taranto World Para Series leg and was the best of the class at the European Championships. And yet Daniel Molina (ESP) is on a revenge mission; the Paralympic champion will throw everything he can at the young Brit. Then there is Max Gelhaar (GER), the winner in Yokohama and Montreal. While Urand and Molina take chunks out of each other, he could easily sneak past both and zoom to gold.
Meanwhile, the closest thing to a banker on the women’s side is Elise Marc (FRA) in the PTS3 category. The defending champion is the best of the class and on her day has shown she can reach a level none can match. If she is off her game, though, Anna Plotnikova (AIN) is probably best placed of Marc’s rivals to push for gold.
PTS4
If Marc is the overwhelming favourite among the women’s, Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA) is the only obvious gold medallist in the men’s competition. The guy just does not lose. Let’s put it this way: you cannot count with the fingers on one hand how many years it has been since he last lost an individual race (it was 2019: if you can count back that many fingers on one hand, please consult your doctor). Carson Clough (USA), Pierre-Antoine Baele (FRA) and a Jeremy Peacock (AUS) with home support will push him hard. But beating Hanquinquant is one of sport’s toughest asks.
Among the women’s PTS4 class, Hannah Moore (GBR) comes in as the Paralympic bronze medallist and has two World Para Cup wins this year. Sally Pilbeam (AUS) won a bronze of her own at last year’s World Para Triathlon Championships and is always so consistent. However it feels like Camille Seneclauze (FRA) may be the champion-in-waiting. She earned the silver last year, and has since nabbed the European title and a win in Montreal (her first in the World Para Series) as part of a three race winning streak. Wollongong would be win number four and a maiden world crown. Such is Seneclauze’s form, it seems likelier than not to transpire.
PTS5
And now we get to the royal rumble. The only way to describe the men’s PTS5 class this year is that it is arguably the likeliest race of any under the World Triathlon umbrella to force you onto the edge of your seat. Across the World Para Series, there have been multiple close calls while the class is also deep enough for those athletes to come either 1st or 6th.
This could be Jack Howell’s (AUS) year. Since charging to the silver medal in Torremolinos, he has been on a tear, logging wins in Devonport and Taranto. With home advantage in his pocket, he will be tough to beat. But nothing is ever certain in the PTS5 class. Stefan Daniel (CAN) arrives as the defending champion, Chris Hammer (USA) as the reigning Paralympic champion. Both are true heavyweights of Para Triathlon. Throw in Martin Schulz (GER), too, the Tokyo champion finding his best form once more. Daniel won in Montreal. Schulz is the European champion and denied Howell gold in Yokohama. Not to be overlooked are Bence Mocsari (HUN), Filipe Marques (POR) and David Bryant (AUS), who beat Howell at the Oceania Para Triathlon Championships. The list goes on. The gold genuinely could go anywhere.
Among the women, Grace Norman (USA) has ruled the roost in the PTS5 class of late, winning both the Paralympic and world titles last year. Her primary challenger will likely be Lauren Steadman (GBR), the Tokyo champion and a classy operator. Equally, this may be the moment the future of the category arrives. Grace Brimelow (AUS) is one of the youngest at the World Para Triathlon Championships (born in 2007) and has won further World Para Series stops after powering to her maiden win last year. She is the Oceania champion and is rapidly improving. If she is to be the next queen of the PTS5 class, the question is when will her reign begin?
PTVI
In the men’s PTVI class, Dave Ellis B3 (GBR) is the guy. He swept the Paralympic, world and European titles last year and has not slowed down since. A win followed in Taranto, as did a pair of World Para Cup golds, but things did not go to plan for him at the European Championships where he finished 10th. As such, with Ellis proven not to be infallible, the door remains slightly ajar for someone like Antoine Perel B1 (FRA), Thibaut Rigaudeau B3 (FRA) or Oscar Kelly B3 (GBR) to barge through.
Another epic showdown is also in store between Susana Rodriguez B1 (ESP) and Francesca Tarantello B3 (ITA) in the women’s PTVI class. The former won the Paralympic, world and European titles last year. The latter was the 2023 world champion. This is a rivalry that has defined the class for the last few years, and Rodriguez will be loath to surrender her primacy. Maggie Sandles B3 (AUS), Hermes McClain B1 (USA), Chloe MacCombe B3 (IRL) and Judith MacCombe B3 (IRL) will be in the battle for the podium, but Rodriguez and Tarantello are the main contenders for gold.
