There were joys in the first wins of Morgan Pearson (USA) and Leonie Periault (FRA), there were lows in the crashes that wiped out the likes of world champion Dorian Coninx (FRA) and Vasco Vilaca (POR) and there were plenty of talking points in between. As a long-awaited season opener and first Olympic taster, WTCS Yokohama had a bit of everything.
One of the most significant aspects of the race, though, came right after the finish line as the Olympic rankings were thrown into new directions. As the window to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games enters its final fortnight, plenty is on the line for a lot of athletes. Read on below to find out the most noteworthy shifts caused by Yokohama and who now sees their Olympic hopes hanging by a thread.
The Men’s Olympic Rankings
After winning the Wollongong World Cup last month, Luke Willian (AUS) had climbed to 41st in the Olympic qualification rankings. That was only a taster for what was to come. A brilliant bronze medal bumped him up seventeen places to 24th in the rankings and saw him hit the automatic criteria required to earn selection to the Australian team in Paris.
With the silver medallist from Yokohama, Matthew Hauser (AUS), also ensconced in the top-30, Australia will need one more athlete to rise if they are to send a third man to the Games. In that respect, Brandon Copeland may be pivotal. He finished the weekend ranked 42nd, a place shy of where Willian entered it. If Copeland can muster something special at WTCS Cagliari in two weeks, perhaps Australia’s dramatic late dash to a full male trio at the Games will be complete.
Along with being the race winner, Morgan Pearson was the biggest riser in the rankings. He climbed twenty-five places to 25th and now stands as the second American man after Matthew McElroy. As a result, USA occupies the same boat as the Australian men. Seth Rider is next in line and stands 46th in rankings. If he can jump into the top-30, the team will receive that precious third slot in Paris.
Among the other risers, Charles Paquet of Canada’s 5th place in Yokohama saw him soar seventeen places to 32nd in the Olympic rankings while Marten Van Riel (BEL) gained thirteen places to sit in 34th, showing just how things could still be thrown open after the final hurrah at WTCS Cagliari.
However, when it comes to the push to send three men to Paris, two countries have lost ground. After positive progress across the World Cup action earlier in the season, New Zealand are now on the outside looking in. Dylan McCullough is still just about safe in 30th however Tayler Reid has slipped back to 38th. Reid is only 60 points back from McCullough so both can make the top-30 but the race to do so will be tight.
Similarly, Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) slipped two places to 31st. As the third Spanish man in the Olympic rankings, he will need to overtake McCullough in the next two weeks. With Hungary also hunting a third male slot, the race for the top-30 over the final fortnight will be incredibly tight.
The Women’s Olympic Rankings
One of the biggest movers in the women’s rankings was Anna Godoy Contreras (ESP). The Spanish athlete was in sensational form as she finished 6th and subsequently improved her Olympic ranking by fourteen places to 46th. For Spain, Godoy’s form could make the Olympic conversation extremely interesting.
Miriam Casillas Garcia has already been picked for the Games and is deep inside the top-30. Standing in between Casillas and Godoy is Noelia Juan in 34th. Should Juan and Godoy rise into the top-30, both could go to Paris as Spain will get to send three women. Should either of them miss out, though, the two women will be in a straight shoot-out for the final place on the team.
As with Pearson in the men’s race, Leonie Periault’s win saw her make a notable climb in the Olympic rankings. She moved up eight places into 17th and is now realistically assured a place on the French team. Taylor Knibb (USA) also rose by five places to break into the top-10. She now stands in 6th.
The top-30 cut off remains key and two women made moves in that area. Flora Duffy (BER) jumped six places to 24th while Djenyfer Arnold (BRA) also gained six places to now sit in 33rd. However, neither athlete will affect the race for a third athlete as their respective countries only have two women in the top-60 of the rankings. For the likes of Spain, the consequences could be huge.
Stay up to date with the final rises and falls on TriathlonLive and across World Triathlon social channels.
