There might just be no better story in sport than a comeback.
In 2023, there are a number of triathletes that will embark on comebacks to the elite scene after challenging years in 2022. Injury and personal circumstances hit us all. As such, the returns of the athletes listed will inspire a great many people.
We have opted to not include athletes that had injuries in 2022 but were still able to come back before the end of the season. Such athletes include Leonie Periault, who produced a fine performance at WTCS Abu Dhabi, and Beatrice Mallozzi, who made her return to elite racing after a terrible bike crash.
We’ve also noted the comebacks of Gwen Jorgensen and Katie Zaferes separately so will focus on different athletes here.
Lotte Miller
Lotte Miller’s 2022 season was cut down by injury as she suffered a herniated disc and then underwent back surgery. As a consequence of her injuries, she managed one international individual race after June which was a DNF at the European championships.
A World Junior bronze medallist in 2015, she has a best WTCS finish of 6th in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
It would be great to see her return to the WTCS top-10 in 2023. Being only born in 1996, it would be entirely conceivable that Miller could return stronger than ever. If that is the case, she will be someone to keep an eye on this year.
Moreover, she might just become the piece of the puzzle that elevates the Norwegian Mixed Team Relay to the next level.
Marten Van Riel
Marten Van Riel has WTCS medals to his name from Leeds and Edmonton in 2021; he won bronze at the former and silver at the latter. Coupled with a 4th place individual finish at the Tokyo Olympics, it became clear by the end of 2021 that, on his day, he is one of the best racers in the men’s field.
Unfortunately, Van Riel had his 2022 season more or less wiped out and he last raced in June.
Shortly after racing WTCS Montreal, he caught COVID which put him on the back foot. However, the bigger issue came soon after when he suffered an oedema in his ankle.
It is a horrible injury to have and even now Van Riel has to ponder how he will get back to his former levels.
The uncertainty over injury is one of the great challenges of the sport and can be as mentally destructive as injuries can be physically.
We are nevertheless hoping he can reattain his old heights. One day at a time, things will get better and we look forward to seeing him “keeping it Riel” on the WTCS circuit when he is ready.
Angie Olmo
The short distance triathlon world hasn’t seen Olmo since Tokyo. Due to personal challenges that predated the Olympic Games in 2021, Olmo elected to step back from the sport in 2022. It was a very brave decision and a reminder to all athletes that personal health has to come first.
In December 2022, she made her return to racing in style. Olmo won Challenge Daytona in her first race back and opened the door to what could be a brilliant comeback.
One challenge will be how much assistance the Italian federation will provide on her return to elite competition. Given her success at Challenge Daytona, Olmo may decide that the long distance arena interests her more going forward.
Whether she returns will be a personal choice. Likewise, the distance she elects to prioritise will be a personal choice. All we can say is Olmo is a wonderful athlete and any WTCS event would be richer to have her on the start list.
As an aside, she forms one of triathlon’s power couples with Leo Bergere. One could go as far as to call them Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively of the triathlon world.
Jess Learmonth
Learmonth has been a stalwart on WTCS podiums for the best part of half a decade. Most recently a WTCS medallist in Leeds 2021, Learmonth was also a Mixed Team Relay gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics.
She actually started the 2022 season with a strong showing in Abu Dhabi (2021). That day she finished 4th and seemed to be well placed to contend for an overall Series medal.
However, a hip injury derailed her in 2022. As a result, we have not seen her participate in a WTCS race in the past year. Hip injuries can also be notoriously fickle and tricky to return from.
Having taken the time to recover and rehabilitate, Learmonth is now on the road back to racing and will likely feature in the WTCS this season. With her ability on the swim and bike, plus her experience, she will likely be at the front of the race once she has had time to get back up to speed.
Alice Betto
Alice Betto is a WTCS medallist after winning bronze in Leeds in 2017.
This year, she will be returning to triathlon after taking a pregnancy break from the sport. Betto’s only finish in 2022 season was 8th in Hamburg in 2021 and she did not participate in any international races in 2022. In the future, she would be exactly the kind of athlete that would benefit from World Triathlon’s new maternity policy.
Betto’s pregnancy break also came after a period of strong form. 2019 might just have been the best season of her career after she recorded a number of individual top-10 finishes and electric relay splits. Our hope is that she can recapture that form. If she does, she could be shaking up the top-10 at WTCS races in 2023.
