It was not yet half past seven when Laguna Chica began to fill with flags, cameras and voices in a host of languages. With the air at 13 degrees and the water at 17, 32 para triathletes from 10 nations lined up on the shore to contest the World Triathlon Para Cup San Pedro de la Paz 2026, the only stop on the world para triathlon circuit held in South America. Now in its second edition, following its debut in November 2025, the race has quickly established itself as a fixture on the international calendar.
A home crowd that carried Chile
If there was one team the spectators had come to see, it was the home side, and Chile delivered. Rafaela Rojas, just 19 years old, crossed the line to take the PTS4 title in 1:29:01, claiming gold on home soil for the second year running after also winning at the inaugural edition in 2025. Minutes earlier, Yunerki Ortega Ponce and his guide had secured silver in PTVI in 1:04:33, behind only France’s Maxime Gayet.
Benjamín Bobadilla, fourth in PTWC, José Soto Soto, fourth in PTS5, and Bastián Berríos Valdivia, fifth in PTS4, rounded off a Chilean performance that yielded two medals and a clear sense that para triathlon in Chile has both a present and a future.
World-class racing on the Biobío
Some of the finest para triathletes on the planet raced at Laguna Chica. Brazil’s Ruiter Antonio Gonçalves Silva set the fastest time of the day, 59:44, to win PTS5 and successfully defend the title he won here in 2025, ahead of Kenya’s Oscar Dennis and Jesús Moreno of the United States. Two-time Paralympic champion Allysa Seely (USA) won PTS2 in 1:20:00, while Italy’s Michele Pasquazzo took PTS4 in 1:07:50 from Shane Harvey (USA) and South Africa’s Mhlengi Gwala. Austria’s Thomas Fruehwirth dominated the wheelchair race, winning PTWC in 1:02:37.
Italy celebrated a one-two in PTS3, with Luca Panciroli edging Fabrizio Suarato by just 12 seconds and Brazil’s Rafael Reis Quirino completing the podium. There were also victories for Diego Lares García of Mexico in PTS2 men, and for Virginia Ogburn (PTS5) and Marina Mears (PTVI), both of the United States. In PTVI men, Maxime Gayet won in 1:00:35, with Mexico’s Heli de Jesús Casillas Alcalá taking bronze.
Results by category
All races were held over the sprint distance of 750 m swim, 20 km bike and 5 km run.
In the wheelchair race, Thomas Fruehwirth (AUT) won PTWC men in 1:02:37, ahead of Brazil’s Lucas Henrique Santana Rodrigues (1:14:03) and Argentina’s Facundo Palacio (1:15:15).
Allysa Seely (USA) won PTS2 women in 1:20:00, with Brazil’s Amanda Antunes de Paiva second in 1:36:29. In PTS2 men, Diego Alfonso Lares García (MEX) took victory in 1:22:39, followed by Carson Fox (USA) in 1:33:02 and Joao Pedro Araujo dos Santos Padeti (BRA) in 1:38:57.
PTS3 men produced the closest finish of the day, as Luca Panciroli (ITA) clocked 1:09:02 to beat compatriot Fabrizio Suarato by 12 seconds (1:09:14), with Rafael Reis Quirino (BRA) third in 1:14:22.
Rafaela Rojas (CHI) won PTS4 women in 1:29:01. In PTS4 men, Michele Pasquazzo (ITA) won in 1:07:50, with Shane Harvey (USA) second in 1:11:15 and Mhlengi Gwala (RSA) third in 1:11:40.
Virginia Ogburn led a United States one-two in PTS5 women, winning in 1:10:25 ahead of Michelle Dynes (1:18:03). In PTS5 men, Ruiter Antonio Gonçalves Silva (BRA) posted the fastest time of the day, 59:44, ahead of Oscar Dennis (KEN) in 1:02:01 and Jesús Moreno (USA) in 1:06:49.
Marina Mears (USA) won PTVI women in 1:12:18. In PTVI men, Maxime Gayet (FRA) won in 1:00:35, with Chile’s Yunerki Ortega Ponce second in 1:04:33 and Mexico’s Heli de Jesús Casillas Alcalá third in 1:05:48.
