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
Mark Allen aging up quote
How to adjust your triathlon training as you get older – Mark Allen on the 7 ways to make aging a less slippery slope
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
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!)
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
latest News
Beth Potter Cassandre Beaugrand Olympic Games Paris Test Event Triathlon August 2023
WTCS Yokohama 2025: Date, start time and how to watch live as Olympic stars head to Japan
Sam Long bike leg IRONMAN 703 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
“I think he’s a sneaky little guy” – which fellow pro got under the skin of Sam Long at 70.3 St. George?
Mathis Margirier wins the Challenge Championship in Samorin 2023 [Photo credit: Activimages / Challenge Family]
The Championship History: What makes the racing in Šamorín so special?
Former Royal Marine scales Mount Everest to complete the ‘world’s longest triathlon’
Kristian Blummenfelt IRONMAN Texas Fans 2025
IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence start lists: Krisitian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden set to star in France
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...