Search
shop

Triathlon great announces major career decision

The two-time world champion will race over longer distances only from 2025.
Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Short-course triathlon is losing another great as today’s WTCS Grand Final showdown looms large in Torremolinos-Andalucia.

For French sporting icon Vincent Luis, this will be the 16th and last time he suits up in a race which will decide a World Triathlon champion. On two occasions – in 2019 and 2020 – he was crowned as the champion after two incredible seasons.

Luis also claimed Olympic bronze with the French team in Mixed Relay at Tokyo in 2021, but the COVID-enforced delay from 2020 hurt his chances of individual gold – a year earlier he had been at the peak of his brilliant powers. He missed out on a place in the France team at Paris 2024.

Advertisement

Vincent Luis moving up in distance

Now though the 35-year-old star will race for the final time today (Sunday October 20) over the Olympic distance, and from 2025 on he will step up to longer distances.

He spoke about his decision in a heartfelt Instagram post, looking back on a glittering short-course career with the fondest of memories, and looking ahead to ‘one last dance’ in Spain later today.

He wrote: “As I reflect on the past 19 years of racing for the French team I can only feel grateful for the opportunity I was given. Tomorrow will be 112th start as a French team member and my 16th grand finale 3 as a junior, 2 as a u23 and 11 as an Elite. Now the time has come to say goodbye to the blue carpet.

“Next year will be a complete new world for me by competing only in the longer distances. To all @‌worldtriathlon athletes I want to thank you for all the good memories and the fierce battles. I met incredible people. I hope I helped somehow, at some point, to make short course racing better. Let’s go for one last dance tomorrow.”

Vincent Luis - WTCS Bermuda 2022
Vincent Luis is ready for ‘one last dance’ in Torremolinos on Sunday [Photo credit: World Triathlon]

What is next for Vincent Luis?

So, from 2025 we will see Vincent Luis operating at longer distances, and the smart money will be on the fledgling T100 Series being a regular home for him. He has also dabbled in the IRONMAN 70.3 distance in the past, claiming victory in Bahrain in 2022.

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
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
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
Kona scenic 2022 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
The survey results which prompted IRONMAN’s dramatic Kona U-turn
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...