GB Paratriathletes kick-off Grand Final in fine style

Two Gold, Three Silver and Three Bronze for GB in Rotterdam

Was that the best performance ever from the Great Britain Paratriathlon team?

Now that was an impressive morning.

The introduction of Paratriathlon onto the the programme at the Paralympic Games has, as with any sport, raised the standards across the board and further expanded the international reach of the sport. With competition deeper, medals are much harder to come by. As one of the pioneers of the sport, the Great Britain team is well used to collecting up plenty of Gold, Silver and Bronze at major championship events over the years. There will, I’m sure, have been instances where ‘more’ medals have been collected in years past – but Friday mornings performances at the 2017 ITU World Paratriathlon Championships may well be the best yet, in terms of depth, ever.

Paralympic Champion Andy Lewis (PTS2) continued his winning run to add another Gold to his CV, while Dave Ellis (guided by top triathlete, Carl Shaw), added a second British Gold in the visually impaired (PTSVI) division, crossing the line just 12 seconds clear of Silver.

Silver medals were added by Jade Jones (PTSWC) and Paralympic Silver medallist, Lauren Steadman (PTS5), who came so close to beating the Paralympic Gold medallist, Grace Norman (USA). The gap at the finish? Just four seconds. There was further Silver for Steven Crowley (PTS4), who finished behind the reigning European Champion, Alexis Hanuinquant (FRA).

Three Bronze medals were added by Joe Townsend (PTSWC) – his first World Championship podium – Fran Brown (PTS2), in her first World Championship, while Melissa Reid (guided by Hazel McLeod) matched her Bronze medal from Rio in the PTVI category.

While not a podium this time, even fourth place for George Peasgood (PTS5) was arguably the best result to date for the young and fast-improving athlete.

All-in-all, a fantastic performance across the board, which Head Coach Jonathan Riall will, I hope, be rightly proud off. Truly, a fantastic job this morning to the whole team.

Our focus is on the process not the results,our amazing PTWC team finishing off their processes after both medalling today,sums up the week! pic.twitter.com/0wqpO6Adkz

— Jonathon Riall (@jonnyriall) September 15, 2017

So impressed by performances of the @BritTri paratriathletes this morning at #rotterdamGF.They all stepped up when it mattered #bestprepared

— Clare Cunningham PLY (@ClareC09) September 15, 2017

Rotterdam ITU Paratriathlon World Championships – Friday 15th September 2017
750m / 20km / 5km

Results by category (podium finishers plus Great Britain athletes)

PTSWC

Female

1st – Emily Tapp (AUS) – 1:20:28
2nd – Jade Jones (GBR) – 1:21:26
3rd – Eva Maria Moral Pedrero (ESP) – 1:24:12

SILVER 🇬🇧🥈🌎@JadeJones11 pic.twitter.com/Qs1J1fO0gG

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

Male

1st – Jetze Plat (NED) – 1:02:18
2nd – Geert Schipper (NED) – 1:04:27
3rd – Joseph Townsend (GBR) – 1:10:37

He's a bronze medal winner! @Joetownsend1664. Hard work really does pay off! 🥉🌎 pic.twitter.com/pGSHdqFF48

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

PTS2

Female

1st – Liisa Lilja (FIN) – 1:23:30
2nd – Allysa Seely (USA) – 1:24:50
3rd – Fran Brown (GBR) – 1:25:09

Another medal! 🥉for Fran Brown in her first world championships #Paratriathlon @worldtriathlon pic.twitter.com/8xZBRM0e6H

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

Male

1st – Andy Lewis (GBR) – 1:09:55
2nd – Mark Barr (USA) – 1:11:09
3rd – Mohamed Lahna (ITU) – 1:11:21

World champ @Bladerunnerandy pic.twitter.com/8So4H1EUbm

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

PTS3

Female

1st – Elise Marc (FRA) – 1:23:35
2nd – Anna Plotnikova (RUS) – 1:24:30
3rd – Maike Hausberger (GER) – 1:25:33

Male

1st – Daniela Molina (ESP) – 1:11:22
2nd – Justin Godfrey (AUS) – 1:14:07
3rd – Max Gelhaar (GER) – 1:15:19
4th – Ryan Taylor (GBR) – 1:19:25

PTS4

Female

1st – Mami Tani (JPN) – 1:18:18
2nd – Sally Pilbeam (AUS) – 1:18:50
3rd – Patricia Collins (USA) – 1:28:17

Male

1st – Alexis Hanuinquant (FRA) – 1:04:15
2nd – Steven Crowley (GBR) – 1:06:52
3rd – Jamie Brown (USA) – 1:07:54

SILVER @TriSteveGB 🥈PTS4 – in his second World Championships pic.twitter.com/qvqzfRsgxN

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

PTS5

Female

1st – Grace Norman (USA) – 1:09:49
2nd – Lauren Steadman (GBR) – 1:09:53
3rd – Gwladys Lemoussu (FRA) – 1:12:19

6th – Claire Cashmore (GBR) – 1:21:38

SILVER! @LaurenSteadman 🥈 pic.twitter.com/3sTqQAytb9

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

Male

1st – Stefan Daniel (CAN) – 1:01:20
2nd – Jairo Ruiz Lopez (ESP) – 1:03:21
3rd – Chris Hammer (USA) – 1:03:44
4th – George Peasgood (GBR) – 1:04:15

4th place for @george_peasgood – best result of his career! pic.twitter.com/2CXrCIqwSM

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

PTSVI

Female

1st – Katie Kelly (AUS) – 1:13:48
2nd – Susanna Rodriguez (ESP) – 1:15:02
3rd – Melissa Reid (GBR) – 1:17:05 – guided by Hazel McLeod

BRONZE @ReidMelissa @babygiraffe42 PTVI class, another global medal! #rotterdamGF pic.twitter.com/JSJQsGBVuy

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017

Male

1st – Dave Ellis (GBR) – 1:05:21 – guided by Carl Shaw
2nd – Aaron Scheidies (USA) – 1:05:33
3rd – Vasyl Zakrevskyi (UKR) – 1:07:07

Congratulations @davelliz86 and Carl Shaw (Guide) the newly crowned 2017 ITU Paratriathlon World Champions in the PTVI men's category 💪 pic.twitter.com/9ptVGPmqKw

— British Triathlon (@BritTri) September 15, 2017