In the two editions to date, the PTS5 Paralympic Triathlon events have already earned a reputation for the spectacular. In Tokyo, it was Lauren Steadman and Martin Schulz’s grinding down of Grace Norman and George Peasgood over the bike and run segments to win the golds that captured the imaginations of sports lovers around the world.
The Tokyo women’s result had inverted the top two from Rio, where Norman came out on top, and Canada’s Stefan Daniel ran out of road in his bid to halt Schulz’s first golden mission. Now the athletes hit Project Paris for the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run to glory on one of the most spectacular stages imaginable. For full course information, click here.
With so many of the big names still in the medal hunt in Paris and joined by a raft of fresh talent, it looks like the PTS5 will again make for thrilling viewing from 12.20am on Monday 2 September. Check local listings for details of where to watch.
Steadman, Norman and Cashmore return to the big stage
Their battles over the years have been legendary, and the Brits Lauren Steadman and Claire Cashmore and USA’s Grace Norman will line up once again in Paris to try and outdo each other in the quest for the biggest prize of them all.
As well as the Paralympic prize, the trio have shared the past nine world championship titles between them, their collective vice-like grip over the golds keeping all other aspiring champions at bay. But how will that convert in the pressure cauldron of Paralympic Paris?
The woman who finished with bronze in Rio, Gwladys Lemoussu, will certainly be looking to the home crowds to lift her to those great heights once again, buoyed by silver in June’s WTPS Montreal.
Then there is the athlete who beat her there, Kamylle Frenette, also showing some of the very best form of her career. Still just 28 years old, the Canadian followed fourth in Tokyo with bronze at the 2022 World Championships and will undoubtedly be ready to pounce given even half an opportunity in Paris.
Can Daniel or Hammer hit Schulz’s triple threat?
From Rio 2016 to Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024, Germany’s Martin Schulz has an enviable Paralympic journey and what could be an incredible hat trick of wins should he defend his title for the second time in the French capital.
Since that successful Tokyo campaign, the 34-year-old has faltered just a handful of times, winning consecutive European titles and wrestling the world title back from Canada’s Stefan Daniel last year.
Daniel will want to complete his Paralympic medals tally after silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo, and add gold to his impressive six world titles to date. If he can mitigate Schulz’s bike power as much as possible, the Canadian will know that he has the potential to successfully run his rival down over the 5km in Paris.
Brazil’s Ronan Cordeiro also arrives in Paris in rich form after a win in Swansea and bronze in Yokohama, but USA’s Chris Hammer should also be a major challenge for the medals after his recent wins in both Yokohama and Montreal took him up to second in the Paralympic rankings.
For the full start lists, click here.
