The PTS categories run from PTS2 to PTS5 and refer to the amputee athletes. PTS2 describes the athletes with the most severe physical impairment while PTS5 contains athletes with milder impairments. All athletes in the PTS groups may race using prosthetics or other supportive devices, subject to World Triathlon approval. You can view the various Para-triathlon categories here.
S2
Frenchman Jules Ribstein took gold in Abu Dhabi with a consummate all-round performance. After swimming the fastest split of the field, Ribstein went on to record the second fastest bike time and the second fastest run. With a winning margin of 1 minute 19 seconds, Ribstein executed close to a perfect race.
Taking silver was Spaniard Lionel Morales. After losing time to Belgian Wim De Paepe in the swim, Morales put together a strong bike leg to draw even with his rival. De Paepe gained time in T2 however, once the pair made it onto the run, Morales’ speed shone through. Morales out-ran De Paepe with a 20:58 split to De Paepe’s 21:50 to take silver. With almost a minute advantage over fourth place, De Paepe held on for bronze.
Similarly to Ribstein, American Hailey Danz was dominant in the women’s race. She had the second fastest swim and third fastest run of the day but it was the bike that made the difference. Danz crushed a 37:21 for the second fastest split on her way to winning the race by over a minute.
Second place went to Danz’s compatriot Melissa Stockwell. Stockwell was just ahead of Danz out of the water but had no answer to the power Danz displayed on the bike. Nevertheless, Stockwell rallied impressively as she logged the second best run of the day in a 24:58. The fastest run actually went to bronze medallist Anu Francis of Australia. Francis also narrowly beat Danz’s split on the bike, however she could not make up the time she lost during the swim.
S3
The battle between Daniel Molina and Nico Van Der Burgt in the men’s race went down to the wire. While Molina had the slight upper hand in the swim, Van Der Burgt was able to budge ahead in the bike. A superior T2 for Van Der Burgt saw him jump into the lead but Molina quietly set about his pursuit. Over the course of the 5km, Molina reeled in his target with the third fastest split of the field (21:56). Van Der Burgt held on for a well-deserved silver while Max Gelhaar of Germany took bronze.
In the women’s race, Elise Marc of France beat Sanne Koopman of the Netherlands to gold. Marc was the better of the two athletes in the field in all three disciplines, however Koopman gave a strong performance in what was her first world championships. Born in 2002, the experience will stand Koopman in good stead in the future.
For Marc, the win was particularly sweet after taking silver at the 2021 world championships and her gold in Abu Dhabi was a terrific all-round performance.
S4
Alexis Hanquinquant of France produced a superlative performance to take the world title by 1 minute 47 seconds over fellow Frenchman Pierre-Antoine Baele. Hanquinquant was utterly dominant, logging the fastest splits in each of the swim, bike and run.
Baele and Australian Jeremy Peacock were in a close battle out of the swim and in the bike, however Bael gradually pulled away and gained a lead of over 30 seconds into T2. He then went on to out-run Peacock by 59 seconds to seal the silver while Peacock settled from bronze.
In the women’s race, Spaniard Andrea Miguelez Ranz took a comprehensive victory. Born in only 2003, Miguelez Ranz logged the joint-best swim of the day in 12:50. A strong solo bike the opened up a lead however it was her run that sealed victory. Her 21:59 5km was the best of the field and helped her to a winning margin of 1 minute 40 seconds.
American Kelly Elmlinger took silver while Spaniard Marta Frances Gomez came home in third.
S5
Tokyo Paralympic champion Martin Schulz suffered an upset as Canadian Stefan Daniel took the win in the men’s S5 category. Schulz came into the race unbeaten in 2022 and jumped to an early lead in the swim. Daniel was unable to make up much ground over the course of the bike and it seemed like Schulz was in prime position. However, Daniel had the better T2 and emerged with momentum, momentum that would only build.
Over the course of the 5km run, Daniel overtook Schulz and surged to the win on the back of an electric 16:04 split. As much as Schulz tried, he simply could not live with the Canadian’s speed. Chris Hammer (USA) took bronze with the second fastest run of the field (16:26).
In the women’s race, Brit Claire Cashmore took an early lead in the swim. Only five seconds behind, though, lurked Tokyo silver medallist Grace Norman of the USA. Norman detonated the field with a 33:01 bike split and went on to log the best run of the day with an 18:50. While Cashmore battled to stay in contention and also recorded a sub-20 minute run (19:57), Norman’s speed was too much.
Kamylle Frenette of Canada took bronze.
You can view the full results of the PTS categories here.
