Gold Coast 2018: Four future faces

With 12 Para triathlon medal events happening in one day at the 2018 World Triathlon Grand Finals on 15 September, gold medallists stole the show in Gold Coast, Australia. However, these four names should not get lost ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics:

Fran Brown (Great Britain)

Brown wedged herself between Allysa Seely and Hailey Danz to spoil a one-two US finish on the podium. In Gold Coast, Brown captured silver in the women’s PTS2, one better than her finish last year in Rotterdam, Netherlands. She has only been competing in the international scene since 2016, after the sport’s debut in Rio, and appears on course for a strong debut at Tokyo 2020.

Kamylle Frenette (Canada)

Not bad for her first complete season.

Although Frenette fell short of a medal in the women’s PTS5, her result was still impressive for her first major international competition. She medalled at two World Cups this year, including gold in her home race in Magog. Frenette will need to make up time in all three disciplines to keep up with Great Britain’s world champion Lauren Steadman and the USA’s Grace Norman. But she is on the right track.

Hideki Uda (Japan)

Uda is one of the strongest Para triathletes in the Asian region, but he has not been able to get over the hump at the Worlds level. The PTS4 triathlete again took fourth place at the Grand Final, with Luxembourg’s Joe Kurt having the edge in the swim and bike portions. However, the home support ahead of Tokyo 2020 would be Uda’s edge.

Hector Catala Laparra (Spain)

After finishing off the podium last year, Laparra made it back on at Gold Coast 2018 with bronze in the men’s PTVI category. It was his second World Championship medal, having also taken bronze in 2016. His rise in the rankings only brings him closer to a Paralympic debut in the sport.