U.S. Elite Paratriathletes Race for World Titles at 2023 World Triathlon Para Championships Pontevedra
by USA Triathlon
COLORADO SPRINGS — U.S. elite paratriathletes will race for world titles and important Paris 2024 Paralympic Games qualifying points this weekend at the 2023 World Triathlon Paratriathlon Championships. The 2023 World Triathlon Paratriathlon Championships, while not a direct auto-qualification event, gives athletes a valuable opportunity to earn points toward qualification for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
The racing action Friday through Sunday also includes the men's and women's elite triathlon races, the women's and men's U23 World Championships and age group world championships in Standard Triathlon, Super Sprint Triathlon and Standard-Distance Aquabike.
SCHEDULE
- U.S. elite paratriathletes race on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3 a.m. ET (9 a.m. local time in Pontevedra).
- The U23 men's race is on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 8:20 a.m. ET (2:20 p.m. local time in Pontevedra).
- The elite men's race is on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:20 a.m. ET (5:20 p.m. local time in Pontevedra).
- The women's U23 race is on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 8 a.m. ET (2 p.m. local time in Pontevedra).
- The elite women's race is on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 10:45 a.m. ET (4:45 p.m. local time in Pontevedra).
HOW TO WATCH
All the races will be available live and on demand on TriathlonLIVE.tv. World Triathlon is offering a special Pay-Per-View pass for the events in Pontevedra.
WHO IS RACING
U.S. elite paratriathletes are set to race in Pontevedra, including Paralympic medalists Grace Norman (2016 gold, 2020 silver medalist, PTS5); Kendall Gretsch (2020 gold medalist, PTWC); Allysa Seely (2016, 2020 gold medalist, PTS2); Hailey Danz (2016, 2020 silver medalist, PTS2), Melissa Stockwell (2016 bronze medalist, PTS2) and Mohamed Lahna (2016 bronze medalist representing Morocco, PTS2).
Also racing is three-time Paralympian Chris Hammer (PTS5), Tokyo 2020 Paralympians Kelly Elmlinger (PTS4), Kyle Coon (PTVI), with guide Zach Goodman and Eric McElvenny (PTS4). Fellow Paralympian Mark Barr (PTS2) finished fourth at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and returned to the sport last year following the announcement his classification, men’s PTS2, would be a medal event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Twenty-year old Project Podium athlete Owen Cravens (PTVI) will race with guide Ben Hoffman, while fellow up and coming stars Carson Clough (PTS4), Emma Meyers (PTS4), Emelia Perry (PTWC), McClain Hermes (PTVI) and Deb Chucoski (PTVI) will also race.