Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
TikTok
Newsletter Subscribe
Lausanne 2019: Para triathlon world champions crowned
Lauren Parker, Fran Brown Jules Ribstein make grand Worlds debuts 02 Sep 2019
Lauren Parker was among the first-time world champions crowned on Sunday, while Jetze Plat, Alexis Hanquinquant and Stefan Daniel continued their dominance as the 2019 Grand Final concluded in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Parker, who only began competing in Para triathlon less than two years ago, took full advantage of the bike course to clinch her first world title in the women’s PTWC.
The former Ironman triathlete finished ahead of two-time world champion Kendall Gretsch of the USA and Germany’s Christiane Reppe, respectively.
More debut delight
Fran Brown of Great Britain was another debut winner, completing the 20km bike course more than five minutes quicker than any other athlete in the women’s PTS2.
Brown had a strong enough advantage on the bike that even a late surge from the USA’s defending champion Allysa Seely was not enough to prevent Brown from winning by 50 seconds. The USA’s Hailey Danz claimed her sixth World Championship medal with bronze.
A thrilling battle between two Brits in the women’s PTS5 saw Claire Cashmore finish just three seconds ahead of Lauren Steadman to claim her first world gold medal.
The duo were side-by-side for most of the run. But in the final few hundred metres, Cashmore sprinted away from defending champion Steadman to take the tape. Paralympic champion Grace Norman of the USA was third.
Spain’s Hector Catala Laparra got the better of Great Britain’s multiple world champions Dave Ellis and the USA’s Aaron Scheidies in a highly competitive men’s PTVI race.
Catala Laparra secured his first world title, 50 seconds ahead of defending champion Ellis, with Scheidies only 12 seconds further back in third.
Triple success
Spain were one of three nations to claim three gold medals, with France and Great Britain also returning from Switzerland with three world champions.
Spain’s Susana Rodriguez defended her title in the women’s PTVI, topping Great Britain’s Melissa Reid and Canada’s Jessica Tuomela respectively.
Dani Molina also secured back-to-back gold medals in the men’s PTS3; as the Netherlands’ Nico Van Der Burgt and Russia’s Victor Chebotarev joined the Spaniard on the podium.
A first world title in the men’s PTS2 for France’s Jules Ribstein continued his rapid rise in the sport, upgrading last year’s bronze medal to gold.
Andy Lewis of Great Britain got silver, followed by the Netherlands’ Maurits Morsink.
Ribstein was one of three French gold medallists, as Elise Marc reclaimed her world title in the women’s PTS3 after silver last year. Defending champion Anna Plotnikova of Russia was second and Ireland’s Cassie Cava third.
Alexis Hanquinquant won the men’s PTS4 for the third consecutive year, leading from start to finish over China’s Jiachao Wang. Alejandro Sanchez Palomero of Spain completed the podium.
Unstoppable Plat
With Tokyo 2020 less than a year away, Paralympic champion Jetze Plat continues to be a dominant force in the men’s PTWC, finishing nearly six minutes ahead of fellow Dutch triathlete Geert Schipper. Italy’s Giovanni Achenza finished third, as Plat claimed his fourth successive world title.
It was another brilliant battle between Canada’s Stefan Daniel and Germany’s Martin Schulz in the men’s PTS5 with only seconds separating the pair heading onto the 5km run. But Schulz was unable to stay with Daniel’s pace as the Canadian took the tape for the fourth time.
The USA’s Chris Hammer finished on the podium for the first time since 2017.
Victory in the women’s PTS4 ensured Great Britain’s Hannah Moore became a double world champion in only her second World Championships. Moore crossed the line two-and-a-half minutes ahead of Kelly Elmlinger of the USA with Germany’s Elke Van Engelen three minutes further back.
Complete results from the 2019 Grand Finals are available on the ITU’s website.
