Taylor Knibb ticks off “first test” with WTCS Yokohama podium on road to Paris Olympics

Following on from her impressive win last month at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, Taylor Knibb opened up her short course season with a stellar performance at WTCS Yokohama this weekend.

Finishing in second behind French winner Leonie Periault, Knibb ticked off her first Olympic distance race under the guidance of new head coach Dan Lorang.

Looking ahead to the Paris Olympic Games this summer, the American reflected on her race in Japan and underlined where she needs to improve before the showdown on July 31.

“It is kind of shocking”

Asked how she felt immediately after her podium, Knibb seemed surprised by how well she race, but also pointed out that her transitions in particular let her down, and are one major aspect to improve.

“It is kind of shocking, it is an Olympic distance and it is one of the very last few on the circuit, and I am very grateful to be here and to have a race.

“I’ll move on [after a disappointing T2], my team know that I have a lot of work to do, and I will be doing a lot of transition practice, so if anyone is in Boulder and wants to practice I will probably be doing it everyday!” 

“This was the first test”

Set to race at WTCS Cagliari and the San Francisco T100 in the buildup to Paris, Knibb revealed Yokohama was the first true test alongside her new team.

“This was the first test, I made a lot of changes last year, I have a new head coach, a new swim coach, and I think this is the first time as a team we got to see where I am.

“I think they will probably be horrified with how I raced, that was the quintessential Taylor race right there, but its raw, its open and that’s what we are working with.”

Looking to become just the second US woman to win Olympic triathlon gold this summer after Gwen Jorgensen in 2016, Knibb appears to be in a good place with two and a half months left until the Games.