Paralympic champion kicks off World Triathlon Series with STUNNING victory in Devonport
The opening races of the 2025 World Triathlon Para Series (WTPS) commenced in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, with a number of the world’s finest swim, bike and runners in attendance.
Spain’s Susana Rodriguez put in a headline-stealing performance with a dominant victory in the PTVI category. Competing Down Under for the first time, the 37-year-old had too much for her rivals, with a stunning swim setting up her triumph.
Other winners included USA standout Howie Sanborn in the men’s PTWC category, Australia’s Lauren Parker in the women’s PTWC, Michelle Dynes (USA) in PTS5, with Greek star Stylianos Malakopoulos taking the PTS3 crown.
Super Susana
Two-time PTVI Paralympic champion Rodriguez is one of the sports most storied competitors with six World Championships and five European titles also on her resumé.
She outgunned her foes in Devonport from the off, opening up a 30 second lead over Australia’s Maggie Sandles in the swim before entering T1. A competitive bike leg saw the two rivals stay close, but a strong running performance from the Spaniard secured victory in a time of 1:07:53, winning by four minutes and three seconds.
Reflecting on the race, Rodriguez told World Triathlon it was a “hard and tough challenge, but one that provided the perfect way to kick off her season.”
Sandles finished in second-place, while Ireland’s Chloe MacCombe was a further two minutes back. Caroline Baird (AUS) made up the finishing quartet.
Parker powers home
PTWC Paralympic champion Parker was also in fine form as she took home top honours in her home country. A four-time world champion, and four-time Oceania champion, she was in a league of her own in the race recording a time of 1:08:45.
“It was really good. This is the best race to start the season and I’m really happy with my performance. I wasn’t sure where I was going to be at in terms of my power output and overall time, but I did better than expected. I felt really good out there – it was a really good swim, and I pushed it on the bike like a time trial,” Parker told World Triathlon.
Several other Paris Paralympians were victorious with Grace Brimelow (PTS4), Anu Francis (PTS), Jack Howell (PTS5), Jeremy Peacock (PTS4), Thomas Goodman (PTS2) and Sam Harding (PTVI) – the latter alongside Olympian Aaron Royle.
Australia’s Oceanic Champion Howell said after the race to World Triathlon: “It hurt, which is good. I definitely can’t say that it was an easy win, but I’m really happy to get another win – I always love winning here.”
“The swim was the fastest swim I’ve ever done in Devonport. Usually, you can expect a bit of surf, so it was nice to go fast on the flat water. Definitely on the bike and the run, going west, you could feel that wind—it makes you work hard, that’s for sure,” he added.
The next event in the 2025 World Triathlon Para Series is in Yokohama on May 17, with events in Taranto, Italy (June 7) and Montreal, Canada (July 19) also on the schedule.
