The final two Team World Triathlon projects for 2026 took place in October, with athletes competing at the World Triathlon Cup events in Rome, Italy, on 3–4 October and Tongyeong, Korea, on 24 October. The two events brought together athletes from developing and emerging National Federations (NF's) across Europe, the Americas and Asia, providing opportunities to gain international racing experience and progress towards LA2028 and beyond.
At the World Triathlon Cup Rome, nine athletes represented seven NF's, including four from Europe Triathlon - Helena Knaapi (FIN), Liis Kapten (EST), Tjasa Vrtacic (SLO), and Carol Popa (ROU), three from Americas Triathlon Maria Carolina Velasquez(COL) and Diego Moya (CHI) and two from Africa Triathlon Shanae Williams (RSA) and Julian Birkel (RSA). Both Knaapi and Kapten made their debut selections for Team World Triathlon. The team was managed by Ognjen Stojanovic (SRB), with Rolf Ebeling (GER) as Team Leader.
Results were mixed in a very strong field - Diego Moya (CHI) recorded the team's best result, finishing 20th, followed by Maria Carolina Velasquez (COL) in 24th and Julian Birkel (RSA) in 25th. Tjasa Vrtacic (SLO) finished 29th, while Liis Kapten (EST) placed 34th and Shanae Williams (RSA) finished 38th. Helena Knaapi (FIN) finished 46th, with Carol Popa (ROU) in 49th. Andree Buc (CHI) did not finish.
Team World Triathlon raced again in Asia at the World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong, where four athletes from four NF's were selected. The group included two athletes from Asia Triathlon - Tzu Pan (TPE) and Yegor Krupyakov (KAZ); Europe Triathlon was represented again by Carol Popa (ROU) and Shanae Williams (RSA) from Africa Triathlon. Two-time Olympian Felix Duchamp (FRA/ROU) supported the team as Team Manager.
In tough and very wet conditions, it was Shanae Williams (RSA) who led the team's results, finishing 33rd, followed by Carol Popa (ROU) in 46th, Yegor Krupyakov (KAZ) in 48th and Tzu Pan (TPE) in 52nd.
Through the Team World Triathlon project, World Triathlon Development provides athletes from emerging and developing National Federations (NF Groups 2, 3A and 3B) with coaching expertise, resources and competition opportunities to help them progress towards the World Triathlon Cup level and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The programme also supports younger athletes making the transition from junior to elite competition, with the longer-term aim of developing athletes towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games and beyond.
Link to full results:
World Triathlon Cup Rome
World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong
