After a huge 2024 qualifying ten athletes for the Paris Olympic Games, Team World Triathlon brings six athletes to its first stop of the 2025 season this weekend, as well as a familiar face to the backroom staff. 

Joining the squad for the World Triathlon Cup Samarkand and kicking off the new cycle towards LA 2028 will be: Alina Khakimova (UZB), Tjasa Vrtacic (SLO), Bridget Theunissen (RSA), Shanae Williams (RSA), Tzu I Pan (TPE), Rashif AmilaYaqin (INA).

Former team member Ognjen Stojanovic brings his experience of several years on the squad as the Team Manager for Samarkand.  

Alina Khakimova flies the flag for the home nation and secured her first Asia Cup gold medal at the tail end of 2024. Tjasa Vrtacic has been training in Girona with Cassandre Beaugrand and scored a top 10 at the U23 World Championships in 2023. 

South African duo Shanae Williams and Bridget Theunissen bring plenty of experience at World Cup level, Continental Champion Williams also with a clutch of Series starts and a first World Cup top 10 in Brasilia at the end of 2024. 

On the men’s side, former Asian U23 silver medallist Tzu I Pan trains in Australia as part of Warwick Dalziel’s squad, and Rashif Amila Yaqin joins as part of a new generation of talent being nurtured in Indonesia. 

The Team World Triathlon project is designed to provide support, resources, and expertise to athletes from emerging/developing National Federations (NF Group* 2, 3B, 3A) with the potential to compete at the World Triathlon Cup level and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 

Watch the 2025 World Triathlon Cup Samarkand on TriathlonLive.tv from 11.15am local time on Saturday 24 May

2025 TEAM WORLD TRIATHLON EVENTS: 
24 May - World Triathlon Cup Samarkand
22 June - World Triathlon Cup Huatulco
20 September - World Triathlon Cup Valencia
15 November - World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 

More information about the project and how to apply for Valencia and Tongyeong available here.