Search
shop

Collins Cup Captain’s Picks: Two Brits in, George Goodwin misses out

It's official, the Captain's Picks are in for Samorin and the teams are set for the 2021 Collins Cup - who made the cut and who did not?
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

After putting together the TRI247 choices for the Captain’s Picks at the inaugural Collins Cup on Wednesday night, the formal announcement came on Thursday – and here are the official selections:

Team USA: Katie Zaferes, Taylor Knibb, Chris Leiferman, Justin Metzler
Team Internationals: Ellie Salthourse, Sarah Crowley, Jackson Laundry, Kyle Smith
Team Europe: Kat Matthews, Emma Pallant-Browne, Sebastian Kienle, Daniel Bækkegård

Advertisement

Captain’s Picks highlights

  • Team USA have, as I hoped, gone all-in by picking middle distance novices Taylor Knibb and Katie Zaferes. Nice work – and kudos to both Knibb and Zaferes for taking up the challenge.
  • No Flora Duffy in Team Internationals. That was always a ‘hope’ of mine personally, but glad to see that Ellie Salthouse has been recognised for her 2021 results.
  • British cheers. No Nicola Spirig in Team Europe (which I’d assumed), means that Emma Pallant-Browne and Kat Matthews join a European women’s squad which has FOUR British athletes. Some strength. Daniela Ryf and Anne Haug making up the numbers (!), alongside Lucy Charles-Barclay and Holly Lawrence, in an incredibly strong team.
  • British disappointment too. It was always going to be the toughest selection, but George Goodwin – IRONMAN 70.3 European Champion – misses out, with Sebastian Kienle and Daniel Bækkegård taking the final two places. Given his performance at Challenge Daytona too, that’s a tough one.

More reaction soon, but here is the formal news revealed in the last few minutes.


PTO Collins Cup Captain’s Picks

Team US Captains, Mark Allen and Karen Symers, confirmed that Katie Zaferes, Taylor Knibb, Chris Leiferman and Justin Metzler will join the eight US athletes who have already automatically qualified.

Team International Captains, Lisa Bentley and Simon Whitfield have selected Ellie Salthouse, Sarah Crowley, Jackson Laundry and Kyle Smith to join Team Internationals.

Team Europe Captains, Natascha Badmann and Normann Stadler have decided on Brits Kat Matthews and Emma Pallant-Browne, Germany’s Sebastian Kienle and rising Danish star Daniel Bækkegård to join the already qualified stellar Team Europe line-up that includes PTO World No.1s Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf.

Olympic silver medallist Katie Zaferes said, “I am grateful to have been awarded a Captain’s Pick. It is great that the professionals have their own organisation and now, a flagship race. It is an honour to be part of it and for me to be competing alongside my fellow Americans as part of Team US in The Collin Cup. Whilst beating the competition is the goal, the professional camaraderie generated as professionals unite to make our sport better is the reason this event is so special.”

On hearing of his selection, German star Sebastien Kienle said, “I am excited to race at The Collins Cup. I have been training and preparing to be in the best shape for this race. I am looking forward to competing against the best in the world and helping Team Europe lift the 2021 Collins Cup.”

Australian Sarah Crowley said, “It is an honour to represent Team Internationals at the 2021 Collins Cup. I’m pleased to have received a Captain’s Pick and it will be awesome to race against all the other top triathletes in the world. Being part of a team will be an added incentive to perform at my best.”

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Julia Skala end of Norseman 2025
“A fight for self-worth, strength and healing,” Julia Skala on world’s toughest triathlon
Steve McKenna got the win at the 40th edition of IRONMAN New Zealand.
Star IRONMAN athlete clocks a sub-2:20 marathon – and says there’s more to come
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Yo Yo Yo – London is calling’ – Sam Long the latest big name added to stellar T100 start lists
Kristian Grue wins Norseman 2025
Norseman 2025: Grue and Skala conquer ‘Zombie Hill’ and the world’s TOUGHEST triathlon
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...