Emma Pallant-Browne, ranked #12 in the world after another successful season, has ruled herself out of the T100 finale in Dubai later this month.
The South Africa-based Brit was runner-up to Taylor Knibb at IRONMAN Oceanside at the start of April before going on to notch victories at 70.3 Mallorca – where she beat subsequent IRONMAN World Champion Laura Philipp by 15 seconds – and 70.3 Chattanooga.
She’s raced in five of the six T100 races and is currently 14th in the standings but last time out was a DNF at T100 Lake Las Vegas.
Her best T100 result of 2024 came at San Francisco in June when she was fifth.
‘Trying to look at the positives’
Writing on her Instagram page, she explained: “Sadly I am having to pull out of Dubai T100 😔
“Not an easy choice to miss the Grand Final but after a scope on Wednesday showed the tear and bleeding in my gut we have to let it heal before I can push hard again 💪
“In hindsight I should have done this after San Fran but was desperate to survive to the end of the season.
“Trying to look at the positives, this has forced an earlier end of season break which means I can start my 2025 build earlier. 🤛
“As ever so grateful for all the support and it’s cheesey but so true, things really do grow stronger with some rain! ☔️”
Knibb leads the way
Despite Pallant-Browne’s absence in Dubai, there is still the possibility of over 20 women lining up for the first time in T100 this year, thanks to five wildcard athletes who have qualified during the season.
They include Paris Olympics silver medallist Julie Derron of Switzerland, who has finished second to runaway T100 leader Knibb in her two races so far in Ibiza and Lake Las Vegas.
American superstar Knibb is in pole position in terms of the overall title and knows a win or second place in Dubai on Saturday 16 November will be enough for her to be crowned the first ever T100 Triathlon World Champion and collect $210,000.