Kate Waugh believes she is finally on the road to recovery after a frustrating series of injuries that have resulted in the reigning T100 champion racing just twice in 2026.
After dominating last year’s campaign with three wins and four further podium finishes, the British athlete had hoped to kick on this year and once again challenge for top honours.
However, after pulling out of the opening T100 World Triathlon Tour race on the Gold Coast with a calf injury, ongoing fitness issues have restricted her to just a single appearance at WTCS Yokohama and a World Cup outing in Chengdu.
London hopes dashed by injury
She had hoped that her recovery might come in time for a ‘home’ appearance when the WTCS bandwagon rolls into London next week, but the 27-year-old Brit has now been forced to admit defeat with regard to that particular dream.
Instead, she has now pencilled in next month’s T100 race in Vancouver, where she hopes to finally compete in the tour that she won so handsomely last year.
Writing on Instagram last night, Waugh revealed that her calf injury had led to several further complications and admitted she is only now beginning to see light at the end of what has been a long and frustrating injury lay-off.
“Progress isn’t always loud,” she wrote. “Coming back from my calf tear has been more complicated than I’d hoped. The tear was at the musculotendinous junction, which in itself wasn’t very easy to manage, and along the way I’ve also been dealing with Achilles and posterior tibial tendinopathy.
‘Most frustrating injury of my career’
“It’s honestly been the most frustrating injury I’ve had in my career… at times it’s felt like one step forward, two steps back.
“The positive is that things are finally moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, that means WTCS London has come a little too soon, but giving myself a bit more time now is the right decision.
“I’m obviously gutted to miss racing at home, but I’m excited to keep building towards T100 Vancouver in mid-August and getting back on the start line healthy.”
WTCS London takes place on Saturday, July 25, and while the home supporters will no doubt be disappointed at Waugh’s withdrawal, they do still have seven British athletes to cheer on around the English capital.
Strong cast of British athletes in London
Current series leader Beth Potter is joined by Sian Rainsley, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Olivia Mathias, Jessica Fullagar, Tilly Anema and Sophie Evans on what is a stacked preliminary list of competitors.
France also looks set to be well represented, with Olympic gold medallist Cassandre Beaugrand, Leonie Periault and Emma Lombardi included, while last year’s WTCS champion Lisa Tertsch (GER) and rising Swedish star Tilda Månsson are also named.
Aside from Great Britain, the largest contingent named for the race comes from the USA, with six athletes named, including Taylor Knibb, Taylor Spivey, and Gwen Jorgensen.
Likewise, the men’s race can also boast the biggest names in short-course triathlon, with a potential showdown on the cards between reigning champion Matt Hauser (AUS), T100 champion Hayden Wilde (NZL), and Olympic gold medallist Alex Yee (GBR).
Series leader Vasco Vilaca (POR) and his nearest rivals Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) and Ricardo Batista (POR) are also expected to race.
