The Paris
2024 Paralympic Qualification Period enters its last week, with two series
events remaining in Swansea and Montreal that will finalise the rankings of
those chasing their Paris 2024 dreams. For all but the women’s PTS3, it is a
top nine spot that will as good as guarantee a place on the start line on 1-2
September, without leaving their destiny down to the 16 IPC invitational
places.
On
Saturday, that means the return of World Triathlon Para Series Swansea, and the
Welsh city that joined the circuit for the first time in 2022. For anyone who
remembers the storms of 2023, the forecast is thankfully bright, the athletes
are set and the action will be non-stop as the penultimate Paris points, and
opportunities to perfect their race form, draws closer.
The 750m
swim in the Prince of Wales Docks is followed by a 20km bike and then a 5km run
to the tape, with the action getting underway at 12.30pm in the Welsh city.
Schulz,
Daniel, Hammer renew rivalry
A
formidable line up will once again contest the men’s PTS5, where four of the
top five finishers at Tokyo 2020 are set to battle it out. Defending Paralympic
Champion Stefan Daniel (CAN) knows he will have his work cut out to keep the
likes of World Champion Martin Schulz (GER) and Chris Hammer (USA) at bay over
what will be a fascinating run.
The
visually impaired athletes will be next into the water, Britain’s PTVI World
Champion Dave Ellis B3 and rising star Oscar Kelly B3 taking on Continental
Champions Owen Cravens B3 (USA) and Sam Harding B3 (AUS) for the gold, Lukasz
Wietecki B3 (POL) among the names chasing the points to secure a Paris start.
In the
women’s race, Ireland’s Chloe MacCombe B3 is the top-ranked athlete and will be
starting to believe that not just a first Series win, but a Paralympic medal
could be on the horizon in 2024. Brazil’s Leticia Freitas B1, Italy’s Anna
Barbaro B1, Alison Peasgood B2 and Heloise Courvoisier B3 will collectively
provide some major competition.
PTWC
legends ready to roll
Dutch duo
Jetze Plat H2 and Geert Schipper H2 will once again spearhead the men’s PTWC
line up. Joshua Landman H2 aims to secure himself and GB a Paris start in the
class with a good result, likewise Spain’s Jose Cristobal Ramos Jimenez H1, the
pair currently 12th and 13th respectively in the rankings.
In the
women’s wheelchair class, USA’s defending Paralympic Champion Kendall Gretsch
H2 takes on Canada’s Leanne Taylor H1, GB’s Melissa Nichols H1 and the French
winner here last year, Mona Francis H2.
The
women’s PTS5 follows, with Britain’s Claire Cashmore continuing her pursuit of
another Paralympic podium after winning bronze in Tokyo. The Canadian star who
finished fourth in Japan, Kamylle Frenette, will again provide strong
competition for gold here, Poland’s Monika Belczewska and Emil Gral of France
hoping to tighten their grip on a Paris qualification berth.
Italy’s
ever impressive Veronica Yoko Plebani, Allysa Seely and Neele Ludwig of Germany
contest the women’s PTS2, with Seely hoping to become the USA’s second-ranked
athlete for Paris. Her teammate Mohamed Lahna will lead the line in the men’s
race, Italian Gianluca Valori eyeing points that will grant him the safety of
the rankings top nine.
Opportunity
knocks in PTS3 and PTS4
A big
result for Sanne Koopman in the women’s PTS3 will do her ambitions of a
Paralympic place the world of good, the top five athletes classing up to join
the PTS4 athletes in Paris, USA newcomer and Para Cup Taranto champion Rachel
Watts also one to watch. The men’s race could be a tight affair, with Nico Van
Der Burgt (NED) aiming to reverse last year’s top two by scoring a repeat of
his win here over the mighty Daniel Molina (ESP) from 2022.
With no
Alexis Hanquinquant in the men’s PTS4 race, USA’s rising star Carson Clough
will lead the line in search of his first Series gold, the tough Australian duo
of Jeremy Peacock and Liam Twomey among those standing in his way while Finley
Jakes (GBR), currently 10th in the rankings, chases a potential Paris start, as
does Brazilian Jorge Luis Fonseca in 14th.
The
women’s PTS4 will see Germany’s Eike Van Engelen return to a course on which
she won silver in 2022, this time looking to climb from her current 11th in the
rankings. Japan’s Mami Tani (13th) and USA’s Kelly Worrell (14th) will also be
hungry for the points that could see them jump into the top 9 places with just
one race to go.
Check the
full start lists HERE.
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