Swiss pro triathlete Imogen Simmonds, who finished 9th in the overall standings in the inaugural 2024 T100 Triathlon World Tour series, is looking forward to putting a tough year in the rear view mirror as she gets set to step up to her first start line in 2025 at the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final.
By the end of 2024, Simmonds had well and truly established herself as one to watch with over 10 career wins to date and a solid season of T100 racing which saw her finish in the top 10 overall – gaining a contract for 2025 in the process.
But 2025 has brought unexpected challenges for the Swiss athlete after an out of competition drug test in the build up to the 2024 70.3 World Championships brought back a positive test for Lingandrol. This brought Simmonds’ racing plans to a halt, as she went through a tumultuous process to prove her innocence. Thankfully, that would come in October when the ITA reported a No Fault verdict with “no guilt or negligence” on Imogen’s part.
But that lengthy process has meant Simmonds has spent almost the entire 2025 season away from the start lines. And a planned return to racing at the Laguna Phuket triathlon in November was put on hold after an unfortunate bout of sickness took Imogen out of the race. Which means what is the season closer for many athletes – the Qatar T100 World Championship final – will be Simmonds’ first race of the year.
‘More downs than ups’
Reflecting on 2025 during race week in Qatar, Imogen told us: “It’s been a long year in itself, a year of ups and downs… more downs than ups. But it’s good to be back and it’s exciting to be back racing on the circuit.
“I took a few months out along the way, and luckily I had amazing support around me, great friends, great family. It was great being in Geneva and just focusing on the small things and not on ‘the big thing’. [I was] just trying to move on with life, and find fun things to do outside of triathlon which I think was really refreshing.”
With just a few days until race day in Qatar, there were mixed emotions for Imogen as she gets ready to toe the start line. But an overarching sense of excitement, and gratitude for the sport of triathlon was clear to see.
“It’s hard to put a single emotion on it, but I’d say I’m excited,” she reflected on the way to a gym session for school children in Doha organised by the Qatar Triathlon Federation and local event partner Kia, who are working with the Professional Triathletes Organisation to use this week’s final T100 event to inspire more local children to learn more about triathlon and to take up the sport.
“I think what this time away has shown me is that I truly just love the sport. I love the fact that I can still make it my livelihood, my life. I don’t take that for granted. Perhaps I was starting to before when it was becoming more of a job, but now I think there’s this freshness in it and a new lease of energy perhaps. And that’s pretty cool.”
Ever-evolving dynamics at the top of T100 racing
The T100 Triathlon World Tour is still only in its sophomore stages, but already we’ve seen a huge shift in the racing dynamics in a post-Olympic year where short course athletes have turned their hand to the 100km distance. So how does it feel to be stepping back in after a year away from the T100 start lines?
“I’d say this year has been very different after the Olympic year,” said Imogen. “Obviously it means that a lot of the short course athletes have jumped up into this distance and changed the tone of the racing. And that’s exciting, it’s always awesome. It means that the dynamic at the top is ever evolving.”
“Based on her past performances, it’s important to never count Imogen Simmonds out. She’s proven time and time again that she can perform at the highest level on the world’s biggest stage. But coming into the Grand Final at Qatar T100, her focus is on enjoying the show.
“Let’s be honest, ultimately I don’t think on Friday I’m going to be up there. I didn’t expect to be here, so just being here is exciting. The timeline for processes like this are out of your hands and not always clear. And so it’s exciting to be here, and I’m excited to watch [the race unfold] from a few minutes back, perhaps!”
Looking forward to 2026
The 2025 season might have to be one and done for Imogen Simmonds, but she’s already got her sights set on what 2026 might bring, and a tough year certainly hasn’t dampened her love of the sport.
“I’m excited [for the 2026 season]. I’ve got a certain clarity in my mind now that perhaps I didn’t have before of things that I want to achieve in triathlon. I’m excited to do what I love again.”
