Moving up to the 100km distance was a step into the unknown for British Olympian Kate Waugh.

After a rollercoaster Olympic selection process, with controversy as British Triathlon gave her the nod over teammate Sophie Coldwell who went on to log an appeal, Waugh’s Paris Olympic triathlon campaign resulted in what she described at the time as ‘the worst day of her career’. So stepping away, albeit temporarily (more on that later), from the Olympic distance to focus on the T100 series in 2025 was mainly about a ‘fresh start’.

But an incredible debut at the first race of the 2025 T100 Triathlon World Tour saw Kate blast onto the middle distance scene with a win in Singapore. That would set a precedent for the rest of the year, and Waugh now steps up to the start line at the World Championship final in Qatar as one of the strongest contenders to take the overall world title.

“I had an idea that I might be good at it”

She’s now the one to beat, alongside fellow Olympian Julie Derron and the ever-dominant Lucy Charles-Barclay. But coming into her freshman T100 year, Waugh reveals she didn’t have high expectations.

“I guess I didn’t really have any expectations coming into this series,” she shared after the pre-race press conference in Qatar. “I just wanted to give it a go and see how I would do. I had an idea that I might be good at it [middle distance racing], but I always kind of felt like I was a strong, well-rounded triathlete across swim, bike and run.”

“Winning my first one kind of set the bar high! I’m really happy that I’ve been consistent this year and been on the podium, so hopefully I can finish the year on a high and continue that streak.”

Ready to seize the opportunity, but the pressure is on

A win at the Qatar T100 would see Waugh crowned the overall champion, but she’ll have to fend off stiff competition from Charles-Barclay and Derron to secure that world title.

With great expectations comes great pressure. And while Kate might be feeling that, she’s also ready to relish the opportunity. “Obviously I feel the pressure,” she said, “I would love to put the icing on the cake tomorrow and finish what I started. But the competition is super tough.”

“Julie’s had a really strong back end to the year, so it’s shifted the rankings and stuff. But I see it as a really privileged position to be in. I never imagined myself to be in this position. I’m trying to kind of seize the opportunity and enjoy it as well.

“Whatever happens, I’ve had the season of my career so far, and I’m excited to race T100 for many years to come – and hopefully get stronger every year.”

Olympics left Waugh questioning future in the sport

Kate is one of a fair few athletes choosing to race the T100 series post-Olympics, including Hayden Wilde and Georgia Taylor-Brown. Reflecting on her Paris 2024 Olympics experience, Kate shared it had been a challenging time – but one that has shaped her into a stronger athlete as a result.

“I learned so much after Paris last year. The Olympic prep was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before and I think I’m a stronger athlete and person because of it.”

“I learned so much about myself, and the T100 allowed me almost a fresh start. I was so grateful to have that opportunity. I think I really needed it, because I finished the Olympics year and I was unsure of where my future was in triathlon.

“I’ve definitely found my love for the sport again, and I’m super grateful that T100 has allowed me to do that.”

Olympics still the dream

After that Paris whirlwind, and such success over the 100km distance, you have to wonder whether Kate might be tempted to focus solely on the longer distance scene. But she revealed the Olympics is still very much a motivating factor.

“I’m now feeling refreshed and ready to hit another Olympic cycle and hopefully make LA an incredible experience as well… I have so much I want to achieve in triathlon, I went to Paris last year and didn’t feel like I accomplished what I wanted to. So I definitely have that [LA2028] as a goal long term.

“T100 allows me to build that endurance, it’s a longer longer form of racing, it requires different kind of strengths. So, I’m hoping that will aid my performance in the Olympics as well.”

“I don’t intend to step away from T100 anytime soon. I’m really loving it, I love the organisation and how they’re making the sport a glamorous place to be. Getting to race in these beautiful locations is always incredible as well. I think we’re so lucky that with our sport we get to travel all around the world and see these beautiful places.

“I’ve been really enjoying it and hopefully I can get the balancing act right between short course and middle distance. It’s not easy, but I want the challenge.”

Is triathlon becoming more mainstream?

T100 have tasked themselves with taking triathlon to the masses. And in Kate’s experience, she thinks it might be working. “I think we’re really lucky that T100 is making grounds in the public sphere as well. It’s giving us a lot of publicity, and that’s really cool. And even my friends from home are showing an interest in triathlon as well, because they’re not sporty at all.

“I’ve even had some friends message me, saying they’ve entered London [T100] next year, so it’s really exciting and it’s nice to be part of it.”