Four star names have been added to the line-up for the Arena Games finale in London on April 8.
Three-time Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee, IRONMAN World Champion Gustav Iden, the 2022 Arena Games Triathlon champion Beth Potter and last year’s London winner Cassandre Beaugrand have all been confirmed as intended starters.
They can’t compete for the overall World Championship title as they haven’t raced in either of the first two events in Montreal and Switzerland, but they are sure to add intrigue to the finals which will feature 18 of the top 20 ranked women and men in the series.
15-year-old Szalai also back in action
Brownlee, who will be cheered on by home fans at the London Aquatics Centre, starts his season this weekend at the European Cup event in Quarteira and has set his sights on Paris and an attempt at more Olympic glory.
Norwegian star Iden won the IMWC title at his first attempt in record-breaking style in Kona last year to add to his two Ironman 70.3 World Championships and is also aiming for the Paris Olympics as he switches his focus back to short-course racing.
On the women’s side last year’s overall winner Potter could head into London in better form following the Scot’s maiden WTCS victory in Abu Dhabi.
And she’ll be joined France’s Beaugrand, who had a perfect record in England last season – winning both Arena Games and Super League in London as well as the WTCS event in Leeds.
The favourites to become the official triathlon esports World Champions are the respective winners from Montreal and Sursee – Chase McQueen and Henri Schoeman in the men’s field and Gina Sereno and Zsanett Bragmayer in the women’s.
There is also plenty of British interest aside from Brownlee and Potter for home fans with Olivia Mathias – second in Sursee – Kate Waugh, Dan Dixon and Jack Stanton-Stock all racing.
As is 15-year-old Hungarian sensation Fanni Szalai, who stunned the triathlon world with a podium performance in her first ever race as an elite in Switzerland.
