Search
shop

Commonwealth Games Champion Katie Crowhurst all set for WTPS Swansea

Commonwealth Games paratriathlon gold medallist Katie Crowhurst is back in racing action on Saturday
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Katie Crowhurst starts in Swansea on Saturday less than a week after becoming Commonwealth champion.

Having completed her first event only last year, 18-year-old Crowhurst is set for her seventh paratriathlon race at the Volvo 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea this weekend.

Advertisement

Surprise gold

Crowhurst was a surprise gold medal winner of the women’s PTVI paratriathlon event at the Commonwealth Games along with guide, Jessica Fullagar.

Alison Peasgood was the pre-race favourite in Birmingham. She won silver in Rio and has claimed multiple European and World titles, but a crash in the wet conditions during the second lap of the bike put an end to her dreams of winning gold for Scotland. 

The Canadian pair of Jessica Tuomela and Emma Skaug were well up the road, thanks to their head start based on Tuomela being completely blind compared with Crowhurst, who has some limited vision. Their lead was also thanks to some very strong cycling, but Crowhurst overhauled her and kept extending her lead. Her eventual margin of victory was just over four minutes from Chloe MacCombe and Catherine Sands (Northern Ireland) in second and Tuomela in third place.

“I’m still speechless,” said Crowhurst at the British Triathlon camp at Swansea University. “It’s not sunk in yet, but it was amazing and I’m really happy with the achievement.” 

Katie Crowhurst Jessica Fullagar photo credit World Triathlon
Katie Crowhurst Jessica Fullagar [Photo credit: World Triathlon]

WTPS comes to Swansea 

On Saturday, Swansea hosts a World Triathlon Para Series event for the first of three years. Crowhurst will be guided by Grace France, a highly experienced athlete who came from international level Modern Pentathlon and often worked with Peasgood, before retiring on health grounds. 

Healthy again, she has worked closely with Crowhurst over the last year. Her role with British Triathlon is to help bring through development athletes, but Crowhurst’s progression has been so rapid, there’s already suggestion of needing to find someone else to fulfil the role in the lead up to Paris, particularly as Fullagar will race on the World Triathlon circuit as an elite athlete in her own right and will therefore no longer be eligible to guide.

Crowhurst said, “I’ve raced with Grace before so it’s not a new partnership. I’m used to Grace, and she’s used to me so it will be good to race again together.”

“This race will be a new experience and it will be great in Swansea to have another home crowd. It’s different competitors, as well as a few others that have come from the Commonwealths, so it will be good to see how it goes.”

Advertisement

Swim star

A national record holder in the pool and part of the world class swimming programme, Crowhurst might not have come to triathlon if it hadn’t been for the loss of training and competition opportunity brought about by Covid lockdowns. Look out for Crowhurst to have another strong start during the 750m swim on Saturday.

France said: “She’s a really quick swimmer, and unfortunately that’s my weakest discipline of the three. I’ve been training hard this winter since racing with Katie for the first-time last year to try and push as hard as we can, working out how we best work together and where we position ourselves to go fast as a pair, not just individually. 

“I’d like to say I’ve supported Katie quite nicely over the last year. I like to think I give her enough confidence across all three disciplines, but she’s learned everything technically so quickly, I think my job is done and I can officially retire soon! But I’m really looking forward to the race and hopefully we can go quicker than we have done before.”

What’s next?

Still waiting for her A-level results later this month, Crowhurst knows exactly what she’s training for next.

“I have the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, so that’s the next thing in November, then I’m aiming for Paris, so I’ll continue on with the training!”

Katie Crowhurst / Team England / Commonwealth Games / Birmingham 2022
Helen Gorman
Written by
Helen Gorman
Helen is part of the editorial team at TRI247 after spending ten years as a Press Officer with British Triathlon. She's mostly found at a pool, sometimes breaking world masters records.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Frederic Funk finish line Challenge Samarkand 2023 photo credit Challenge Family
Challenge Roth 2025: German star goes into the unknown in iconic triathlon showdown
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
‘It’s going to be an absolute firecracker’ says Cam Wurf after booking IRONMAN World Champs spot
Maya Kingma Karlovy Vary win 2024
Two-time Olympic triathlete joins top pro cycling team – and is set to race in Giro d’Italia
Oliver Conway World Triathlon Cuo win Saidia 2025
Breakthrough World Cup win – and Brownlee Racing spot – in memorable week for British youngster
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders moving again but taking it step by step in injury battle
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...