Melissa Nicholls won bronze at the World Triathlon Para Series in Swansea to claim three podiums in three races on her Wales return.

The 46-year-old only started participating internationally in the PTWC category last year and competed in the Swansea Para Tri Series for the second time, advancing her fourth-placed finish from 2022.

The Olympian and former wheelchair racer held her own in the swim but emerged from the water two minutes behind eventual winner Mona Francis of France.

Determined Nicholls closed the gap in the push and found herself neck and neck with Margret Ijdema after the first lap.

On the second lap, the Tewkesbury triathlete dexterously manoeuvred into second but a dramatic final lap saw her lose out to Brazilian Jessica Ferreira who romped home for silver.

She said: “I’m over the moon about it, there was a little mess up at the end but it’s racing, it’s pretty early days for me in triathlon or the aquathlon.

“Yesterday, with the reccy, had I known that there was potential of finishing where I have today I wouldn’t have believed it so I'm pleased to have a good position in the race that I’ve had.

“I was so excited to race again in Swansea, the weather hasn’t been on our side but Swansea definitely has been so it’s nice to come back and do better than last year.”

Bret Crossley and Josh Landmann came sixth and seventh in the men’s wheelchair as Landmann unluckily lost the rubber on his pusher in the first lap.

It was not meant to be for the British PTWC men, but the pair certainly felt inspired by the atmosphere at Swansea in the standalone Para Tri Series.

Landmann said: “I had a good swim and then I got onto the chair and was pushing great.

“Unfortunately one of my rubbers came off on my pusher so I was pushing on one rubber and lost a few places but I managed to pull back what I could.

“I’ve just got to keep moving forward now and then hopefully get a smooth race at some point

“It’s always great to have home support which we don’t get when we travel the continent as much and it’s great to showcase the sport in the UK and hopefully get more people involved across all categories.”

2023 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea welcomed some of the best paratriathletes from around the world as well as home favourites representing Great Britain on 15 July. British paratriathletes will be racing in Paris on 20 August 2023 in preparation for next year’s Paralympic Games. You can follow British paratriathletes on their journey to Paris 2024 and find out more about opportunities to get involved in swim, bike, run at https://www.britishtriathlon.org/