The second edition of the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea has been confirmed for 2023. Based at SA1 Waterfront, the event will be held on Saturday 15 July 2023.
As with the first edition held earlier this year, the event will be held one day prior to IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, which will also return for its second edition, with a slightly earlier slot in the calendar.
Building on a great debut
The first WTPS event in the UK was held alongside the World Triathlon Leeds in 2021, but 2022 was the first time that Britain had hosted a standalone edition of the very top tier of paratriathlon racing.
It was a great event, one which I got to be a part of myself in the on-site announcer / commentary role. The day was also supported by more than four hours of live broadcast on TriathlonLive, including live venue reporting from long-time head of the British Triathlon Parartiathlon Program, Jonathon Riall, and Tokyo 2022 gold medallist, Lauren Steadman.
With a host of World, Commonwealth and Paralympic Games champions racing, it was a fantastic day. With the experience of that first year complete, I would confidently expect the day to be even better in 2023.
One of the highlights of the day was a memorable sprint finish for Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Katie Crowhurst, which we got the inside track on from both a competitor and guide perspective.
The event will have even more status in 2023, as the race will take place within the qualification window for Paris, enabling British paratriathletes to compete for vital points in front of a home crowd. The event headlined Disability Sport Wales’ Para Sport Festival last year and will do so again in 2023.
All levels
Racing in Swansea wasn’t solely for the elite. The event also provided opportunity for disabled people of all sporting levels to engage with swim, bike, run.
The fourth stage of the British Triathlon Paratri Super Series was hosted on much of the same course as the elite races, with up-and-coming British paratriathletes racing as well as individuals new to the sport also taking part.
GO TRI Disability Aquathlon Swansea provided an accessible swim-run event, with participants starting from the same pontoon and crossing the same finish line as the elite athletes who raced after them.
Continue the momentum
Andy Salmon, British Triathlon CEO, said: “Having organised Britain’s first standalone World Triathlon Para Series event earlier this year, I’m delighted that we can continue the momentum by announcing 15 July 2023 as the date for the next edition.
“Alongside the racing this year, we hosted the first International Para Triathlon Conference under the banner ‘to achieve para parity’, and that is very much our vision as we look to build on the success of 2022 by further enhancing the experience and delivery of paratriathlon events.
“Working with partners at UK Sport, Welsh Government, Swansea City Council and Welsh Triathlon, we are excited to once again welcome paratriathletes from around the world to Britain.”
Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport said: “I’m delighted that the World Triathlon Para Series will return to Swansea for a second year thanks to the support of The National Lottery. Just over a year out from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the world’s best para triathletes will descend on Swansea looking to secure their qualification for Paris, which I’m sure will contribute to a fabulous day to world class racing.
“Not only will fans be able to see some of the world’s best triathletes up close, but they will also be able to get involved in a para-sport festival which will take place in the city throughout the week.”
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