Search
shop

Taylor Knibb replaced for WTCS Grand Final as Katie Zaferes caps return season in Pontevedra

Katie Zaferes replaces Taylor Knibb on the WTCS Grand Final start list.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Newly crowned IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb looks to have called an end to her short course season after securing Olympic qualification at the Paris Test Event two weeks ago, as the versatile American stokes the fire amid Kona and an IRONMAN debut rumours.

With Knibb withdrawing from the start list at the WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra, former World Champion Katie Zaferes will take her place, as the World #43 continues to chase Olympic qualification and re-establish herself at the top level of racing following the birth of her first child.

Following eighth place at the first round of the Super League Triathlon Championship Series over the weekend, Zaferes now has an action-packed racing schedule lined up, with Super League races in Toulouse and Malibu sandwiching the Grand Final at the end of the month in Spain.

Advertisement

Another shot at Olympic qualification

For Zaferes, the place on the start line at the Grand Final offers one more chance this season to secure qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with the Team USA selection policy, which prioritised the Test Event, offering selection through their Tier 2 criteria which requires a podium finish in Pontevedra.

Katie Zaferes bike WTCS Hamburg finals 2023 photo credit: Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon
[Photo credit: Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon]

After starting her comeback with 37th at WTCS Abu Dhabi and then three consecutive Americas Triathlon Cup podiums in Sarasota, Missouri and Punta Cana, Zaferes steadily improved throughout the year to secure spots at further WTCS races, the Olympic Test Event and now the Grand Final.

With a top finish of fifth at WTCS Montreal in June, a podium is in reach for Zaferes in Pontevedra and her participation in the Super League Championship Series may give her the race sharpness and preparedness needed to race at her best in Spain and give the Tokyo Olympic Individual Bronze medalist a shot at another podium next summer.

However, she will be competing against not only a world class field with agendas of their own in Pontevedra but also a strong cast of American women, all of whom have an eye on achieving selection to the Games in Paris. In particular, Olympian Summer Rappaport, World #3 Taylor Spivey and World #18 Kirsten Kasper will be there to push Zaferes all the way.

Whatever ends up happening, this sub-plot of the women’s race will be incredibly interesting to watch unfold and will give a good indication, if one of the aforementioned athletes qualify, of Gwen Jorgensen’s hopes to secure an Olympic berth next year, as the 2016 Olympic Champion watches this race from the sidelines.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Taylor Knibb 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo New Zealand
US triathlon phenom Taylor Knibb hails great rival Kat Matthews for record-breaking IRONMAN Texas win
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
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...