Para-triathlon is a growing and exciting part of triathlon and is home to a range of talented athletes. The categories for Para-triathlon can be viewed here.
The PTWC categories (PTWC1 and PTWC2) are designated for the most impaired wheelchair users through to the least impaired wheelchair users. Athletes use a recumbent handcycle on the bike and a racing wheelchair on the run.
At Abu Dhabi, PTWC2 athletes received an additional 3 minutes 42 seconds to their total time to equalise the difference to the PTWC1 athletes.
Lauren Parker Overcomes Kendall Gretsch
Australian Lauren Parker (PTWC1) took the win after a stellar performance in which she had top-3 splits in the field in each of the swim, bike and run.
After logging a time of 11:57 in the water, Parker emerged in second place behind American Kendall Gretsch (PTWC2). The battle between Gretsch and Parker looked to be one of the most intriguing clashes of the day after last year’s Tokyo Paralympics. There, Gretsch took the gold medal by a single second.
After the swim in Abu Dhabi, Gretsch extended her 19 second advantage over T1 and then built up a commanding lead over the bike.
By the time the two women exited T2, Gretsch led by 2 minutes 40 seconds. As a PTWC2 athlete, though Gretsch would have to lead by 3 minutes 43 by the end of the race to ensure victory. Parker, however, put in a brilliant run (the third fastest of the field). Gretsch was only able to make up 36 seconds on the run and so Parker took the win by 25 seconds.
Parker’s win caps off a sterling year in which she has won all of her races. After avenging her narrow defeat in Tokyo, she will go into 2023 as the woman to beat.
Imperious Jetze Plat Surges to Win
Jetze Plat (PTWC2) of the Netherlands put in a dominant showing in Abu Dhabi. He was the only man to dip under 10 minutes in the swim with his 9:40 performance. That was not enough, though, and he went on to record the fastest split in the bike and run too.
With his win, Plat extended a winning run that he has maintained since the World Championships in Chicago in 2015. Moreover, he achieved a remarkable sixth consecutive world title to go with his Paralympic golds in Rio and Tokyo.
Austrian Florian Brungraber (PTWC2) took the silver after a close battle with the experienced Dutch athlete Geert Schipper (PTWC2). Though Brungraber took the lead in the swim, Schipper had a fantastic bike split to draw within striking distance. Brungraber, however, remained composed and executed the best run split after Plat to secure his position.
Schipper rounded out the podium, 34 seconds behind Brungraber.
Giovanni Achanza was the best PTWC1 performer of the day as he took fourth place.
View the full PTWC results here.
