Is this the GB Paratriathlon team for Tokyo?

Chief Correspondent

Sunday’s World Triathlon Para Cup A Coruna in Spain represented the final race in the points chase for paratriathletes hoping to qualify for the second edition of Paratriathlon in the Paralympic Games.

Five years ago in Rio, the team returned with four medals, headed by that gold for Andy Lewis (PT2). There were three further medals earned – and it looks almost certain that the athletes who collected those will be returning to the Paralympic Games on August 28 and 29.

Andy Lewis Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Paratriathlon - Delly Carr / ITU Media

While the number of medals available in Tokyo has increased from six to eight, the post-Rio paratriathlon category changes mean there are still two categories each in male and female, NOT included within the programme. This is something I covered at the time. Andy Lewis was one of the athletes impacted by this.

Category
Description **
Men
Women
PTWC
Wheelchair
Included
Included
PTS2
Severe Physical impairment
EXCLUDED
Included
PTS3
Significant Physical Impairment
EXCLUDED
EXCLUDED
PTS4
Moderate Physical Impairment
Included
EXCLUDED
PTS5
Mild Physical Impairment
Included
Included
PTVI
Visually Impaired
Included
Included

(** Note ‘layman’s terms’ used above for brevity and clarity – full details of the Paratriathlon ITU categorisation methodology can be found HERE).

Such is the level of of the top athletes in paratriathlon competition, that British athletes selected will likely need to be potential medal contenders themselves. Looking at the names below, that is certainly the case.

On that basis, and also taking consideration of major championship performances, the World Triathlon Para Rankings and the Paralympic Qualification Rankings (all available HERE), what follows in my personal forecast of the likely team.

To be clear, I don’t have any additional ‘inside’ information, but I would be surprised in the final announced team is very different (if at all), from the names outlined below.

I’m sure that the formal announcement will come very soon. Best wishes to all of the athletes who are awaiting that formal confirmation.

Predicted British Paratriathlon Team for Tokyo 2020

PTWC (MEN & WOMEN)

  • No athletes likely to be selected
Advertisements

PTVI (MEN & WOMEN)

  • Dave Ellis, Guided by Luke Pollard
  • Alison Peasgood, Guided by Nikki Bartlett
  • Melissa Reid, Guided by Hazel Smith

PTS2 (WOMEN ONLY)

  • Fran Brown
Fran Brown

PTS3 (CATEGORY NOT INCLUDED AT TOKYO 2020)

  • No athletes eligible for selection

PTS4 (MEN ONLY)

  • Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor / Yokohama 2021

PTS5 (MEN & WOMEN)

  • George Peasgood
  • Claire Cashmore
  • Lauren Steadman

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
Latest News
Jeanni Metzler wins IRONMAN 70.3 St George 2023 emotion photo credit Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images for IRONMAN
Jeanni Metzler relishing the chance to race on familiar roads in Boulder
Cody Beals wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2022 Photo credit Patrick McDermott / Getty Images for IRONMAN
Canadian Cody Beals opts out of IRONMAN World Championships in Nice
Ruth Astle St George finish line 2022 photo credit Tom Pennington Getty Images for IRONMAN
Ruth Astle pulls back the curtain on mental side of injury with Challenge Roth a doubt
Laura Philipp IRONMAN 703 Kraichgau 2023 [Photo credit: IRONMAN Germany]
Laura Philipp back to full training ahead of massive showdown at Challenge Roth
IRONMAN Hamburg bike course 2023 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Andrew Messick says IRONMAN believed its Hamburg moto plan was safe