Having taken place for the first time this year, 2023 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea will take place on the SA1 Waterfront on Saturday 15 July next year.
The South Wales city welcomed paratriathletes from across the world in August of this year, as Britain hosted a standalone World Triathlon Para Series race for the first time as part of a three-year commitment through to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Next year’s race will take place within the qualification window for Paris, enabling British paratriathletes to compete for vital points in front of a home crowd.
The event headlined Disability Sport Wales’ Para Sport Festival last year and will do so again in 2023. The week-long festival provides a variety of dedicated accessible participation opportunities, including in swim, bike, run, in the build-up to the elite racing before culminating in IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea on Sunday 16 July.
The inaugural edition saw elite British success as Claire Cashmore and Dave Ellis, guided by Luke Pollard, took gold on home soil, with silver medals for George Peasgood and Katie Crowhurst, guided by Grace France.
On top of bringing the world’s best to Swansea, the event also provided opportunity for disabled people of all sporting levels to engage with swim, bike, run.
The fourth stage of the British Triathlon Paratri Super Series was hosted on much of the same course as the elite races, with up-and-coming British paratriathletes racing as well as individuals new to the sport also taking part.
GO TRI Disability Aquathlon Swansea provided an accessible swim-run event, with participants starting from the same pontoon and crossing the same finish line as the elite athletes who raced after them.
In addition to the activities available on the day of the 2022 event, Welsh Triathlon began a legacy programme to bring swim, bike, run to schools across the city and region.
Find out more about World Triathlon Para Series Swansea: https://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/major-events/world-triathlon-para-series-swansea.
Andy Salmon, British Triathlon CEO, said: “Having organised Britain’s first standalone World Triathlon Para Series event earlier this year, I’m delighted that we can continue the momentum by announcing 15 July 2023 as the date for the next edition.
“Alongside the racing this year, we hosted the first International Para Triathlon Conference under the banner ‘to achieve para parity’, and that is very much our vision as we look to build on the success of 2022 by further enhancing the experience and delivery of paratriathlon events.
“Working with partners at UK Sport, Welsh Government, Swansea City Council and Welsh Triathlon, we are excited to once again welcome paratriathletes from around the world to Britain.”
Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport said: “I’m delighted that the World Triathlon Para Series will return to Swansea for a second year thanks to the support of The National Lottery. Just over a year out from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the world’s best para triathletes will descend on Swansea looking to secure their qualification for Paris, which I’m sure will contribute to a fabulous day to world class racing. Not only will fans be able to see some of the world’s best triathletes up close, but they will also be able to get involved in a para-sport festival which will take place in the city throughout the week.”
Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said: “I’m delighted that we were able to support British and Welsh Triathlon in bringing this event to Swansea for the first time and that the city once again, had a chance to demonstrate its expertise in successfully hosting a major para sport event.
“This reaffirms our commitment to the development of disability sport with the event and the parasport festival providing a further platform to promote sporting opportunities for disabled people.
“It’s excellent news that the date for next year’s event has been confirmed and we look forward to welcoming World Triathlon and the athletes back to Wales and Swansea next year.”
Swansea Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “We’re delighted that the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea will return for 2023. It’s a unique and inclusive event that welcomes and celebrates competitors with a wide range of abilities.
“Its first staging in the city this year was a great success for athletes, supporters, local businesses and residents. It saw Paralympic, world and commonwealth champions all racing in Swansea.
“It helped to reinforce the city’s reputation as a welcoming, diverse sporting city with significant experience and expertise in hosting major events.
“We’ll continue to work with the event organisers to ensure that local people have every chance to plan for and to enjoy next year’s World Triathlon Para Series Swansea.”
