Welcome to the latest round up of all that’s hot and happening in swim-bike-run - the World Triathlon Weekly!
Vina del Mar World Cup:
Jorgensen wins 4th gold of 2023, Messias with men’s title in Chile
There was plenty of end-of-season drama in Vina del Mar (Chile) as the final World Cup of 2023 saw four athletes disqualified for not following the prescribed course in the women’s race, leaving USA’s Gwen Jorgensen on top of the podium, compatriot Gina Sereno with silver and Britain’s Vicky Holland the bronze.
“I was concentrated on the course and took what for me at that moment was the logical path,” said another American Paris 2024 hope Katie Zaferes, who had just hit the front of the run when she went off course at the end of lap one, “… but as the rules state, you need to follow the prescribed course and I didn’t do that.”
“This is not how you want to win a race… but I gave it my all to the end and I’m proud of that”, said Jorgensen, for whom a fourth gold sealed a strong 2023 back on the blue carpet. You can rewatch the race here.
In the men’s race, Manoel Messias edged compatriot Miguel Hidalgo to the win in a Brazilian one-two, Aram Michell Peñaflor Moysen of Mexico with the bronze in the last World Cup action of the year. Tune in to TriathlonLIVE.tv to relive the action
70.3 Melbourne:
Tickets to Taupo punched for Wilde and Van Coevorden in Australia
Olympic medallist and #2 in the world this year Hayden Wilde followed up his record-breaking win in the 2023 Noosa Triathlon with another victory in Australia, as he led from start to finish at Sunday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne. The win also ticked off his qualification for a home 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand, next December.
New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson reeled in short-course star Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) on the run to make it a clean sweep of the top step for the Kiwis in Melbourne. Watkinson and Van Coevorden both snapped up qualification for Taupo in 2024, and it is looking to be a massive year for Wilde and Van Coevorden as they both continue their campaigns to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
WATCH: Return to competition for triathlon legend Javier Gomez
Olympic medallist and multiple World Triathlon Champion Javier Gomez Noya will take his turn towards qualifying for the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Championships Taupo this weekend at IRONMAN 70.3 Mossel Bay.
This will be the Spaniard’s comeback race from injury before heading to New Zealand for IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo in December, offering another opportunity to qualify for the World Championships race in 2024.
Follow the race on Sunday, 19th November online and keep an eye on Gomez as he builds towards trying to qualify for his third IRONMAN 70.3 Championships.
The Athletes Lounge
READ: New dates and venues announced for the 2024 season
READ: Beth Potter named highest earning athlete in 2023
READ: Alistair Brownlee has been named the new Chair of the Athletes Commission of the EOC
READ: After 25 years of para-sport classification, and being a key figure on Para triathlon classification since 2008, Marguerite Christophers, has been awarded with the IPC Classification Recognition Award, a global accolade in recognition of her significant contributions to para-sports. She was a key figure on the Para triathlon classification and the bid to include Para triathlon on the Paralympics.
World Triathletes Corner
The triathlon and multisport community pays tribute to an Age-Group legend
She “lived life to the fullest.” Louise Atkinson Clark dies at 73 Canadian triathlon community stunned with loss of “legend of Tremblant”. Atkinson recently earned the bronze medal in the 2023 World Triathlon Age-Group Standard Championships (70-74 AG) and was the proud flag bearer of Team Canada at the Parade of Nations.
Louise Atkinson Clark, 73, died unexpectedly last Saturday while visiting her son François and family in Whitehorse, Yukon. Her death came suddenly, François Clark said in a Facebook post. She’d spent the previous week playing and cuddling with her beloved grandchildren. “Maman was full of joy,” he wrote in French. “She had 1,001 plans and lived life to the fullest.” World Triathlon sends condolences to family, friends and the entire community who are impacted by this sad loss.
