TRI247
Search
shop
SUPERTRI E TICKETS DISCOUNT & VIP COMPETITION
SUPERTRI E TICKETS DISCOUNT & VIP COMPETITION

Jess Learmonth return on hold – for a very good reason!

Olympic gold medal winner Jess Learmonth's comeback will be delayed a little longer after she announced she is expecting her first child

News Director
Last updated -
SHOP
Watch Potter, Brownlee & Beaugrand LIVE

Olympic gold medal winner Jess Learmonth has announced she is expecting her first child.

Learmonth led off Great Britain’s triumphant Mixed Team Relay quartet in Tokyo, alongside Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jonny Brownlee and Alex Yee.

But she hasn’t raced since suffering a hip injury at the 2022 Arena Games finale in Singapore last May, though her name did briefly appear on the provisional start list for this year’s second Arena Games event in Sursee on March 12.

Paris 2024 still on the radar

Revealing the news on her Instagram page, the Leeds-based athlete – who also celebrates her 35th birthday today – said: “Just a little bit longer until I’m back in the Tri-suit …after 20 years together Jon and I will be welcoming baby Wilkinson in September!

Jess Learmonth reveals baby news April 2023

“The triathlon journey still continues 🇫🇷.”

The French flag emoji references the 2024 Olympics in Paris – and what will be a fascinating qualification journey.

Team GB will be looking to field a maximum team of three women, with Taylor-Brown, Learmonth, Beth Potter and Sophie Coldwell all incredibly strong contenders, with others also looking to put their names in the mix.

Advertisement

Comeback trail

Learmonth’s great friend Taylor-Brown won individual silver in Tokyo behind Dame Flora Duffy, who also pipped her to gold at last year’s Commonwealth Games as well as the 2022 WTCS crown.

Potter has started this season in perfect style with her first WTCS victory in Abu Dhabi, while Coldwell continues her upward trajectory.

But Olympic medallists returning to the sport after starting a family has been a welcome theme this season – only last weekend American duo Katie Zaferes (third in Tokyo and second in the Mixed Team Relay) and Gwen Jorgensen (winner in Rio in 2016) were one-two at the Americas Triathlon Cup St. Peters Missouri.

And World Triathlon announced a new maternity policy from the start of 2023 which sees them freeze the rankings of athletes in terms of competition entries from the moment they announce their pregnancy until the child is two years old.

13th April 2024 - London
Watch Potter, Brownlee & Beaugrand as these triathlon superstars take on the world in the build up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
LIMITED TICKETS - DON'T MISS OUT!
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Kyle Smith
Watt it takes to win at supertri E – a data dive into how deep the PROs have to dig
Arena Games Triathlon Finals Singapore - Beth Potter bike
The evolution of Esports in triathlon – How supertri brought virtual racing to the mainstream
Beth Potter Arena Games Triathlon Finals Singapore
Lightning fast splits and record breaking performances – relive some of the top moments from women’s supertri E racing
Lionel Sanders Arena Games Montreal game face on bike photo credit SLT
Countdown to supertri E – a look back at some of the most epic moments in men’s triathlon E racing
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
Brownlee brothers on the costly race day swim mistakes to avoid – plus their own mishaps
latest News
Ben Kanute / Tom Bishop PTO European Open 2023 Ibiza
Former American Olympic triathlete shares the “s*** side of the sport” after Miami T100
Brownlee Fitness Marathon Training Plan
Brownlee overcomes road closure to record rapid run split at Northern Road Relays
Lucy Charles-Barclay comes home second at the Miami T100.
Lucy Charles-Barclay reveals injury struggle that almost kept her from competing in Miami T100
Sam Long wins IRONMAN 70.3 St George 2023 photo credit Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images for IRONMAN
American middle distance star doubling up with back-to-back IRONMAN Series and T100 races
ST GEORGE, UTAH - MAY 07: Lionel Sanders of Canada reacts as he approaches the finish line to place second during the 2021 IRONMAN World Championships on May 07, 2022 in St George, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Professional triathlete Lionel Sanders on overtraining, burnout and balancing rest days
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
Invalid email address
The SBRX Group

Proudly elevating endurance sports through content, products & services

SBRX
RUN247
Share to...