Oceania was one of two regions to have multiple WTCS race winners in 2023. With two men stepping onto the top of the podium, the continent was actually the only one after Europe to be home to a race winner.
Given the rarity of a non-European race winner this season, either of the two gold medallists could make a claim to being the continent’s top triathlete. One of them, though, operated on an exceptional level this season and was only narrowly denied the world title.
Hayden Wilde (NZL)
Hayden Wilde brought home two WTCS gold medals in 2023. He won in commanding fashion in Yokohama before soaring to a dramatic victory in Hamburg. In addition, he claimed a silver medal at WTCS Cagliari and later took the bronze medal at WTCS Sunderland.
With four medals, he was part of a group of three men to sit atop the WTCS medal pile. In the end, he had to settle for the runner-up spot in the overall Series.
When it comes to Wilde’s year, there will be a lingering sense of what could have been. But for the misfortune that struck in Abu Dhabi, Paris and Pontevedra, the season may have turned out differently. Nevertheless, Wilde pieced together yet another impressive WTCS campaign and will be among the favourites to contend for the world and Olympic titles next year.
Beyond the WTCS, Wilde also won the New Plymouth World Cup, impressing on home soil at the only World Cup he raced.
While his WTCS form already made him the clear favourite, his World Cup win added a small flourish to his status as the Oceania Male Triathlete of 2023.
Honourable Mentions
Matthew Hauser made a strong claim to be the region’s top male triathlete after winning WTCS Montreal. A silver medal behind Wilde in Yokohama and top-8 finishes in Hamburg and Pontevedra ultimately helped him to 7th in the WTCS. Almost anywhere else, Hauser’s gold medal would have been enough to take the continental honours. Such was Wilde’s form, though, he came up a little short this time round.
Dylan McCullough won a silver medal at the Miyazaki World Cup. After logging two 4th place finishes earlier in the season, he had been knocking on the door of a maiden World Cup medal. At his final race of the year, he made the breakthrough and landed upon the podium.
Tayler Reid likewise secured a silver medal at the World Cup level. Like Hauser, he also earned his medal behind Wilde as he finished 2nd in New Plymouth. Both Reid and McCullough will likely be in a tight race to join Wilde on the New Zealand Olympic team next year. Wilde, though, remains very much the continent’s dominant triathlete and will be hard to topple in 2024.
