The second round of the 2026 World Para Series is set to take place in Yokohama, with the action kicking off at 06:50 (local time) on 16th May. After the fireworks of the season opener in Devonport, the arrival of multiple world champions for their first races of the year means that something special could be in store. All the action will be shown live on TriathlonLive and you can find out all the top names to watch below.
PTWC
Thomas Fruehwirth will be making his first international appearance of 2026 and is the man to beat. The reigning world champion was a force of nature in the PTWC class last year, logging numerous wins, including at the European Championships. With his recent record, he could blow the field away.
Nevertheless, Louis Noel and Joshua Landmann will seek to end Fruehwirth’s winning streak and, given their talent, should vie for spots on the podium. Keep an eye out, too, on Jumpei Kimura. The home star rarely disappoints in Yokohama and could overshadow the field.
In the women’s race, a battle of Paralympic champions will take place as Paris victor Lauren Parker goes up against Tokyo winner Kendall Gretsch. Last year, Parker reclaimed the world title Gretsch won in 2024 and this rematch will be the latest in a long line that should run all the way to Gretsch’s home Games at LA 2028.
The young American Skyler Fisher could also be in with an outside chance, while Jessica Ferreira has gone up against Parker and Gretsch frequently and enjoyed her fair share of success.
PTVI
Yosuke Yamada comes into Yokohama as the current Asian champion and thus one of Japan’s biggest hopes of a home win. Although he will fancy his chances, he will have to find a way past the Oceania champion, Sam Harding. At the same time, one man that could swoop past both continental champions is Lazar Filipovic, making for a race that is among the hardest to predict.
A similar clash is on the cards in the women’s PTVI class. Maggie Sandles has had a fantastic start to the year, showing wicked speed in all three disciplines on her way to gold medals in Devonport and at the Oceania Championships. Yet such was the authoritative nature of McClain Hermes’ recent World Para Cup victory in Samarkand, it is hard to count the American out. Both will be confident of leaving Japan with another gold medal around their necks.
PTS5
The only appropriate response to news of the impending Jack Howell-Martin Schulz rematch from last year is: thank you very much. Schulz came out on top by the skin of his teeth last time out in Yokohama; can he do so again?
Based on recent form, we can say this with confidence that this will be an early trial run for the World Para Triathlon Championships later this year. However such is the depth of the PTS5 field the likes of Filipe Marques, Bence Mocsari and David Bryant cannot be overlooked. Indeed, it is eminently possible that one of Schulz or Howell are barged off the podium altogether.
Over in the women’s race, we will have a Battle of Graces. Based on her record over the past few years, there is a compelling argument to be made that Grace Norman is the best Para triathlete in the world. Paralympic titles, world titles, Americas titles: she has them all. Soon it will be five years since she last lost an international race and she is approaching a level of dominance akin to the iconic Alexis Hanquinquant. Going into Yokohama, then, it is almost unreasonable to expect anything other than a Norman win.
And yet… Grace Brimelow comes into Yokohama fresh off a win in Devonport and is one of the brightest prospects in all of Para triathlon. Still a teenager, Brimelow may need a little more time until she can take down Norman. Her current levels nonetheless indicate an ability to give Norman a real fight this weekend and beyond.
PTS4
Home talent Hideki Uda will back himself to leave Yokohama with a medal, as will Matthew Engesser and Jeremy Peacock, the silver and bronze medallists at the Oceania Championships. With the utmost respect to all three, and the rest of the PTS4 start list, Alexis Hanquinquant is probably going to win this.
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome, then watching Hanquinquant race with any expectation he will lose has become a textbook exercise. Simply put, the Paralympic champion has not lost an individual race this decade. One day he will surely lose a race to someone, but on recent evidence it is safer to bet against that happening this weekend.
Another French world champion, Camille Seneclauze, is the favourite in the women’s PTS4 class. Seneclauze enjoyed a sensational 2025, although her sole defeat came through her silver medal in Yokohama. Look for her to set that right this time round. Her primary opposition will come from Hannah Moore, who could heap pressure on Seneclauze with a trademark dominant swim.
PTS3
The men’s PTS3 class sees the largest start list of the event. Double world champion Henry Urand is the obvious favourite for gold, but in a deep field he will have to be on top form to secure the win. Max Gelhaar, Geoffrey Wersy and Viktor Chebotarev are all canny operators and could slip by Urand if his levels drop for even a moment.
Meanwhile, Anna Plotnikova looks likely to win the women’s race. Last year’s silver medallist at the World Championships opened her 2026 campaign with a win in Samarkand and is the top-ranked athlete of those starting.
PTS2
Finally, the PTS2 class will pit Paralympic medallist Mohamed Lahna against 2024 world champion Wim De Paepe. De Paepe won in Yokohama last year as part of a golden run that only ended with his silver medal in Wollongong. Lahna, however, won the season opener in Devonport, giving us a clearer indication of where his 2026 form lies. Mark Barr is another likely to be in the mix in a class that offers as many questions as answers right now.
Anu Francis has not lost an international race since Paris 2024 and the world champion has shown no signs of slowing following her early season wins in Devonport and at the Oceania Championships. The experienced multiple World Para Series gold medallist Hailey Danz will offer a tough test, while Asumi Yasuda, the bronze medallist in Wollongong, will have no shortage of home support. Francis, though, is the athlete on top right now and will look to continue her superlative run.