Who doesn’t love a good news story? As the saying goes, it’s been a long time between drinks for Great Britain’s Grant Sheldon.

World University Champion in 2016, Sheldon collected world championship silver in the Junior category back in in 2013 (London), and shortly afterwards finished third in his World Cup debut in Alicante, Spain.

Further success followed – European Sprint Distance championship bronze in 2016, and a career best fourth at the World Triathlon Edmonton in 2016. It would be fair to say however, that the last two years have not reflected that ability, from a results standpoint.

After two World Cup bronze medals in 2019 – Karlovy Vary and Weihai, China – breaking into the top-30 at European Cup, World Cup or WTCS level has been absent, and putting together all three disciplines has proven impossible. That run of results will surely play heavily on the mind of athlete – still only 27 – as nobody wants to travel the world getting, metaphorically, beaten up on every continent. ‘Have I still got it?’, I suspect, must have been asked many times.

And it is with that background, why second place today at the World Triathlon Cup Karlovy Vary is such great news. Particularly on a tough course, which is ready to destroy the hopes of anyone potentially lacking in confidence.

The highest profile of the season? No.
A stacked field with all of the world’s best present? No.
Potentially, one of the most important performances of his career for all of the reasons above. Almost certainly.

Incredible work from @gsheldon23, always fighting and quite the definition of never giving up. Taking a well deserved 2nd place today at @worldtriathlon Karlovyvary World Cup! A lot of emotion into that one. @BritTri pic.twitter.com/fxLHLsMYLM

— Andrew Woodroffe (@andrewwoodroffe) September 12, 2021

World Triathlon Cup Karlovy Vary Results 2021

1.5km / 40km / 10km – Sunday 12th September 2021

ELITE MEN

1. Lasse Nygaard-Priester (GER) – 1:53:31
2. Grant Sheldon (GBR) – 1:54:05
3. Csonger Lehmann (HUN) – 1:54:12
4. Sergio Baxter Cabrera (ESP) – 1:54:22
5. Erwin Vanderplancke (BEL) – 1:54:26

9. Barclay Izzard (GBR) – 1:54:38
14. Jack Willis (GBR) – 1:55:21
33. Harry Leleu (GBR) – 1:59:08
39. Cameron Main (GBR) – 2:00:23

Lasse Nygaard-Priester 🇩🇪 was the man who conquered Karlovy Vary on Sunday morning, producing a lightening run in the Czech town to make sure his first World Triathlon Cup medal was golden. Silver to @gsheldon23 🇬🇧 and bronze for @csongorlehmann 🇭🇺 #KarlovyVaryWC pic.twitter.com/LXeaswlGbd

— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) September 12, 2021

ELITE WOMEN

1. Julie Derron (SUI) – 2:06:57
2. Ai Ueda (JPN) – 2:07:21
3. Bianca Seregni (ITA) – 2:07:32
4. Alissa Konig (SUI) – 2:07:54
5. Marlene Gomez-Islinger (GER) – 2:08:34

15. Sophie Alden (GBR) – 2:12:19
DNF – Sophie Green (GBR)

Julie Derron (SUI) earns World Triathlon Cup gold medal in #KarlovyVaryWC

Ai Ueda takes silver and Bianca Seregni ITA with bronze!

LIVE and on-demand at https://t.co/dToUk2NP1E @SwissTriathlon_ @Triathlon_Japan @federtriathlon pic.twitter.com/I6BRU0x799

— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) September 12, 2021