Jonny Brownlee and defending champ add more star quality to Supertri E World Championship

Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee and reigning champion Chase McQueen have been confirmed as two of the star names for the men’s event at the Supertri E World Triathlon Championship in London on Saturday, April 5.

Brownlee has the full set of gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals and he’s aiming to inspire a new generation of British children to take up the sport as he kicks off his 2025 season at the London Aquatics Centre.

He and brother Alistair set up the Brownlee Foundation after the London Olympics in 2012 to give children a first taste of triathlon, with well over 60,000 having already attended one of their free events.

And Supertri are making tickets in London free for kids this year.

Different type of test

In terms of the racing, it is a sense of unfinished business for Brownlee, who took part in the first ever Supertri E event in 2020, and its London debut in 2021, but hasn’t been able to since. He was due to compete last year but had to withdraw through injury.

He said: “I am really looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd at the Supertri E World Triathlon Championships in London. I really like the innovation that the event brings and it is a good way for me to test myself in a different environment.”

Supertri E fuses the worlds of real life and virtual racing. Powered by MyWhoosh for the first time, the event showcases cutting-edge technology and fierce competition.

And Brownlee added: “For me, racing in front of British fans is incredible and I have to remind myself at this stage of my career that I am very lucky to have this support.

“Supertri are offering free tickets to children for this event which I think is great, as we need to inspire the next wave of athletes to watch and participate in the sport, and I am always very happy to do anything I can to support that.”

Redemption story

Meanwhile reigning Supertri E World Triathlon Champion McQueen is returning to defend his title.

The American star took the title in a dramatic redemption story in 2024, returning to the same venue where he swam butterfly during the finals of Supertri E the previous year.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be racing in Supertri E again this year and defending my title in London. It’s always an incredible experience to race in such an iconic city, surrounded by passionate fans and top-level competition.

“Supertri E has brought some of my best and worst moments / memories as an athlete. Winning last year was a huge achievement for me, and I’m motivated to try and do it again this year. I can’t wait to get back to London.”

Non-stop format

On the women’s side, Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand was the first name to be announced earlier this week.

The finals of the 2025 event will mirror the unique outdoor Supertri format of three continuous rounds of swim, bike and run, putting even more pressure on athletes with any minor mistake magnified and punished.

The schedule on April 5 will see morning heats to determine the finalists, with athletes competing across two stages of swim, bike and run.

And then the top 10 men and top 10 women from the heats will race through three phases in the evening.