Category: Comment

Collin Chartier. It is tempting to say that his name will live in infamy but in truth it will probably be forgotten within a surprisingly short period of time. The wheel shall turn and the next cycle will begin and Chartier’s name will be reduced to a tarnished footnote, forgotten by most, despised by the remembering few. It’s almost a pitiful thought, the idea that in his desperation to perform, to succeed, to enjoy his moment in the sun, he has debased himself to the extent that he will essentially…

In case you missed it yesterday was “Play True Day”, an initiative organised by World Triathlon to emphasise the need for clean sport in triathlon. Clean sport is central to the success of triathlon in the long term. Spectators and fans need to be able to trust what they are watching while athletes deserve to compete on as level a playing field as possible. However Play True Day came only one day after Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed back into the sport. It is with this decision that questions…

It has been four years since the last World Cup race took place in New Zealand. For years, New Plymouth was a fixture on the circuit and served typically as an early season hit-out for some of the best triathletes in the world. This weekend, the event makes its long-awaited return. After that big thing happened in 2020, the world is a different place and so too is the landscape of elite triathlon. New Plymouth offers clues as to just how different the triathlon scene now looks. Upon looking back…

At the recent African Cups in Maselspoort and Nelson Mandela Bay, there have been some good races. At the same time, though, there have been a couple of factors that have undermined the events. These issues are organisational and do not detract from the performances of the athletes. After all, the athletes are showing up and putting their best foot forward. However, in light of the recent African Cups, it is clear that the events could benefit from some attention from World Triathlon going forward. The first issue is small…

Chapter 1: Abu Dhabi From skies, so bright, the gods cast down their gaze to where victors old and new stood and swayed on a pontoon, so blue, one so laden with hope. Stage right, the pretender Hayden. How short was time against disappointment, how long to right last year’s cruel excitement. What small battle were those that stood beside against the doubt that surely lurked inside. The mind, you see, can all too frequently be a foe more fierce than the Eastern heat. Et tu, Leo, the vanquisher, the…

Prior to WTCS Abu Dhabi, we wrote that the French men’s team had effectively broadcasted their strategy for the upcoming WTCS season. With a range of posts about their swimming coming almost simultaneously, it seemed the French were making a subtle point. This came after wins for Vincent Luis and Leo Bergere at WTCS Bermuda and WTCS Abu Dhabi last year. At each race, the French set a stiff pace in the swim to break up the field. Once they made it onto the bike, they formed a small breakaway,…

If you have been paying attention recently, the French men have given their game away. More specifically, they have subtly revealed how they plan to dominate this year’s World Triathlon Championships Series. One of the hints came from the reigning world champion, Léo Bergere. In an Instagram post, he emphasised the work he has done in the pool. In his words, “I want to make sure my swim allows me to make it to the front pack all the time this year”. Moreover, two time WTCS gold medallist Dorian Coninx similarly…