http://www.triathlon.org/news/ en erin.greene@triathlon.org Copyright 2013 2013-05-19T15:12:23+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/fast_five_with_russias_dmitry_polyanskiy http://www.triathlon.org/site/fast_five_with_russias_dmitry_polyanskiy#When:07:42:27Z The World Triathlon Series simply wouldn’t be the same without the strong Russian contingency consistently pushing the pace in the men’s races. Leading that pack is two-time Olympian Dmitry Polyanskiy. As one of the speedy sets of brothers on the circuit, Dmitry can almost always be found on the front end of the swim and in the top 10 of nearly every race he enters. Last year, his top performances earned him a third-place finish in the overall World Championship rankings. ITU recently caught up with Dmitry in Yokohama to talk triathlon, his future, and the family training dynamics. What memories do you have of your first ever triathlon? It was in my home town about ten or more years ago, it was a wonderful experience for me. It was held in Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. I can’t remember where I finished but it was a most enjoyable experience. My father encouraged me to take part. I was a swimmer but I had a very good run and so my father said for me to go and try triathlon. What is your favourite ITU race? My favourite race is in Yokohama in Japan and in Madrid in Spain. I like both races and for me it feels like home because I am not far from my home. Favourite training destination Cyprus. It is the best place in winter for training. Favourite Holiday I don’t have a favourite yet. This season I will travel to Africa and Kilimanjaro. Music I listen to some music but I don’t really have a favourite, I listen to a lot of different music. Post training snack My coach is very good cook, he prepares our meals and always it is healthy and good food for the team after training. Coffee drinker? No, I am not a coffee drinker, I love tea. When I come to Asia, I love the green tea but when in Europe or the US my favourite is black tea. Five years from now, where will Dmitry Polyanskiy be? In the Russian team, we are very focused on the next Olympics in Rio, this is the important goal for us. We are training and learning new technical skills, all to prepare for the Olympic Games in Rio and of course I will try to be there. In London I had no luck with my wheels but in Rio I will be 29 years, which is I think my peak condition for triathlon. I will try, the whole team will try to win a medal at the Olympic Games. Favourite and least favourite training activities? Now of course it is running, this is the most important thing for us and the part of my training I enjoy the most. We are working on new technical parts of the run, we have to try and change... Age Group, Athletes, Regions, Asia, 2013-05-16T07:42:27+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_world_paratriathlon_yokohama http://www.triathlon.org/site/itu_world_paratriathlon_yokohama#When:00:49:48Z 24 competitors lined up in the ITU World Paratriathlon Yokohama this morning in breezy but fine conditions, the rain of yesterday’s elite racing gone making for a more comfortable day for athletes and spectators. The field of paratriathletes were mainly from Japan but international interest was provided by Michael Johnston (USA) and Marcelo Collett (BRA) who renewed their rivalry from the San Diego event two weeks ago in the TRI-5 category. There were also some well known stars; including 3 time Paralympian Mami Sato. Sato has represented Japan at the last 3 Paralympics Games and was 6th in the Long Jump in Beijing in 2008. The national record holder for long jump spoke of her nervousness before her third triathlon. “I am a little bit nervous; I am not so good at everything I think! Triathlon is fantastic sport for me with Paralympics athletes together it is such a good atmosphere. I have some friends watching me race too.” She need not have worried though, the popular Sato received great applause all around the course and finished to a waiting gaggle of media, keen on an interview with the sport’s latest recruit. “It was so hard of course, but I did enjoy it. Swimming I was nervous because today some paratriathletes joined and made it a high speed swim. But I did my best today. “The support is so good; people supported me and made today magic on the course. “I have been a long jumper for ten years, going to Paralympics games but maybe triathlon now for Rio 2016. Because it is a good sport for me, it is a real sport that showcases inclusion, everyone can join, I like this sport and it is good for the Paralympics movement.” Collett again had the better of Johnston in the TRI-5 category, the Brazilian also has his eyes on Rio 2016 and enjoyed his Yokohama experience. “The race I like very much, it was very good contest and strong competition here in Japan, I live it very much and want to thank all the people of Japan. I want to go to Rio, I am training very hard for Rio, this is my goal and I hope I can achieve that dream.” Also taking part was Masazumi Soejima in the TRI-1 men’s category. Soejima has competed at two Paralympics Games in 2004 and 2008, winning a bronze medal at the Athens Games in the wheel chair relay. Daisuke Ejima competed in the men’s TRI-3 category. He too is a veteran of the Paralympics, having competed in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games, winning a silver medal in the medley relay at the Athens... Paratriathlon, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, 2013-05-12T00:49:48+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_yokohama_elite_mens_race_review http://www.triathlon.org/site/world_triathlon_yokohama_elite_mens_race_review#When:02:05:23Z Just two months ago Great Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee didn’t think he would be racing at all this season, but the reigning ITU World Champion came back with a bang in Japan on Saturday, leading from start to finish in a perfect all-round performance at ITU World Triathlon Yokohama. It followed on from his older brother’s similar impressive return to ITU racing in 2013. Just last month Alistair Brownlee raced his first ITU event since the London Olympics in San Diego, and blew away the field there despite not being confident of his run form. In Yokohama it was a similar story, except Jonathan had the added complication that his layoff was because of an ankle injury. That made his performance even more impressive, as he showed no signs of weakness on the run, burning off Spain’s Javier Gomez and Portugal’s Joao Silva over 10km to record his fifth career series win in a time of 1 hour 44 minutes and 59 seconds. Brownlee was emotional afterwards as he revealed that he thought his entire season would have to be ruled out because of that ankle injury. “At the start of the year I was told I wouldn’t be racing at all this season, so I got a bit emotional towards the end because this year I thought I wouldn’t be here at all,” he said. “I thought the season was over two months ago. “I didn’t know what to expect all, to cross the finish line was more relief than anything. I was running around just pleased to be here to be honest, so this is nice.” Brownlee ran an amazing 7:11 for his second lap, a move that won him the race. “I started off and thought there would be a big group of us and turned around and there was just two of us. So I was feeling good, I have an advantage over everyone in that I was felling fresher, they’ve’ raced twice already all over the world and they have the points in the bag whereas I have been at home training in Yorkshire and that is a big advantage that I have had, I think that showed today, but yeah it was a big shock to get a gap.” And he didn’t mind the wet conditions either. “I did feel at home, I have been worried about the heat here, I have been training in a heat chamber before I came out, when I heard the forecast I thought I’m so pleased it is going to rain, I sat in my hotel room hoping for it to rain and it did.” If one thing is becoming clear through the opening rounds of the ITU World Triathlon Series in 2013 (aside from the Brownlee’s class), it is that the men’s swim has been taken to a new level. Hot on... Athletes, Events, World Championship Series, Media Centre, Event Release, Press Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, 2013-05-11T02:05:23+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_yokohama_elite_womens_race_review http://www.triathlon.org/site/world_triathlon_yokohama_elite_womens_race_review#When:23:49:30Z If San Diego hinted at it, Yokohama has well and truly confirmed the USA’s Gwen Jorgensen as the leading contender in 2013, as she took back to back ITU World Triathlon Series titles and the overall series lead in Japan on Saturday. Conditions played a huge part with constant rain and cooler temperatures making for a treacherous race at times, with numerous crashes on the bike. But it was Jorgensen who reigned supreme, first running down Emma Moffatt (AUS) and Jodie Stimpson (GBR) and then simply flying off into the distance to win by 14 seconds in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 5 seconds. Jorgensen initially stayed back after the first lap of the run, but pulled out another negative split 10km to pull back in the difference in the final lap and said it played out to her race plan.  “I wouldn’t say it was a repeat of San Diego, there were different conditions out there today, a choppy swim and the rain on the bike, but it was an exciting race for sure,” Jorgensen said. “I just started the run and to be honest I was a little worried those girls really took it out fast and I just tried to focus on my race. I just tried to maintain pace the whole way.” In overcast conditions with light rain at the start, Mariko Adachi (JPN) led out the swim, taking Moffatt (AUS) with her as they established a lead of 10 seconds out of the water. Moffatt immediately pushed the pace on the bike, dropping Adachi as Stimpson (GBR) closed quickly, aware of the danger Moffatt would pose should she break away solo. That urgency soon dissipated however as the chase group caught and formed one group of 13 athletes, with all the favourites in attendance including Jorgensen (USA), Moffatt, Stimpson, Kate McIlroy (NZL), Maaike Caelers (NED) and former junior ITU world champion Kirsten Sweetland (CAN), who was racing her first WTS event in two years. Caelers, who won bronze in Yokohama in 2012, didn’t have a great start to the bike as she took a tumble early on but the brave Dutchwoman quickly remounted though and joined the chase, 30 seconds down on the lead group. Aside from that crash, not many other major moves happened across the next 25 km with the leaders keeping a gap of between 45 and 55 seconds from a chase group of seven being led by Great Britain’s Katie Hewison. But it all quickly changed in the final two laps, just as the chase managed to cut that to about 30 seconds, the rain started to pour and another crash splintered that pack, putting Caelers, Natalie... Athletes, Events, World Championship Series, Media Centre, Event Release, Press Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, 2013-05-10T23:49:30+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/jonathan_brownlee_heads_into_the_unknown_in_yokohama http://www.triathlon.org/site/jonathan_brownlee_heads_into_the_unknown_in_yokohama#When:03:54:50Z Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) is heading into unknown territory, racing for the first time this season after a delayed start due to an ankle injury, the London Olympic Games bronze medallist will make a belated entry to the season in Yokohama tomorrow. “I feel surprisingly good after the travel, this is the first time I have dropped in to a race this late and I am not really sure how I will feel but I feel okay now. When you know you have a race coming up your body feels completely different anyway. I am really looking forward to racing, it has been awhile without racing now so I have the bug to start racing again. “The ankle itself is fine now, there is nothing wrong with it all, I have not felt any problems with any injury for the best part of five weeks. Obviously I haven’t been training properly or as well as I would like to train but then I have kind of thought that a bit of a break is quite good for me after the Olympics and such a long year, but we will see. For this race I am not in tip top condition but I doubt many of us are. “I am going into this completely blind, I have never done this before, I am used to having six months of complete and perfect training before my first race. If anything it is quite interesting.” Events, World Championship Series, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, 2013-05-10T03:54:50+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/yokohama_press_conference_highlights http://www.triathlon.org/site/yokohama_press_conference_highlights#When:06:33:49Z Two days out from the next round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama and the local media attended a press conference featuring Jonathan Brownlee (GBR), Javier Gomez (ESP), Joao Silva (POR), Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Maaike Caelers (NED). The athletes were welcomed to the stage with a large turnout of Japanese media in attendance. Maaike Caelers on a return to Yokohama, a course she finished third on last year. I think it is a good course, I have raced here for two years, I like the course and I like Japan and am looking forward to it. You never know, I feel fit; I will give all of my best in everything so we will see what the outcome will be. I am still working hard on my swim so that is an important part, to be there with the swim. Then I need to make up where I am, maybe work hard on the bike or just sit in the group and see what happens and start with the run. I’m looking forward to it. On her first WTS press conference: This was a new experience for me, Kris Gemmell tweeted that maybe there is more to come so I will have to get used to it. It is actually very easy, it is no big deal. Gwen Jorgensen on being in Japan: I enjoy being in Japan, it is one of my favourite places to visit; I loved it last year and am happy to be back. It is exciting to be here representing the United States. Everyone here is so polite, everything is very clean and fresh, I love the food and love the people so it is great to be here. On winning in San Diego and whether that changes her approach: I think you go into every race with the same mentality, you don’t come to a race to lose, I am coming out here hoping for a good race. Joao Silva on a return to a race he has won two years in a row: I am happy to be here again, my third time in Yokohama, I am hoping it will be a really good race. I will give my best but those guys next to me (Javier and Jonny) decrease my hopes for another win, but I will try my best again. This year is a little different in a different season of the year, the weather is different and conditions will be different for the race. On his form and the course: I don’t know exactly how fit I am for the race but certainly with a lot of energy and focus to do the race. I like the course but I would prefer the weather a bit hotter and humid but I have to perform whatever the conditions are and I am ready for that. Javier Gomez on the technical nature of the course: This is my third time here also, I too am happy to be here. The course... Events, World Championship Series, Paratriathlon, Media Centre, Event Release, Regions, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, 2013-05-09T06:33:49+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/china_and_japan_qualify_for_2013_itu_triathlon_mixed_relay_world_championsh http://www.triathlon.org/site/china_and_japan_qualify_for_2013_itu_triathlon_mixed_relay_world_championsh#When:09:23:54Z The race for a chance to compete at the 2013 ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships heated up as China and Japan recently became the latest teams to qualify for the event with their top finishes at the ASTC Triathlon Asian Championships in Subic Bay. “Mixed Relay is an incredibly exciting event that athletes and spectators both rally around,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Its dynamic nature and unpredictable lead changes combined with the team camaraderie make the electric race entertaining to watch both in person and on TV.” The berth is the first for China, while Japan garnered its third trip to the championship event, which follows a woman-man-woman-man super sprint format that sees each athlete swim, bike, and run. The top two teams from each Continental Championships automatically earn their National Federations a spot at the World Championships, which will be held on 21 July in Hamburg, Germany alongside the World Triathlon Series race. In addition to qualifying at the continental races, the fastest six teams at the 2012 World Championships already qualified for slots in this year’s race. In addition, the host country is granted one spot, while another three teams will be extended invitations for the mixed gender relay race championships. New Zealand and Australia earlier this year ensured their appearances in Hamburg with first and second place finishes, respectively, at the Mixed Relay Oceania Championships in Kinloch. Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy each qualified last year as the top teams from the 2012 World Championships. Additional teams selected from continental races in Europe, Africa and the Americas have yet to be contested. “It’s a very exciting event to take part of,” Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee said after assisting his team to a second World Championship title last year. “It would be great if we could get into the Olympics as well. It is very exciting, it changes so much throughout the whole race and it’s good to watch.” Events, Continental Championships, Media Centre, Press Release, Multisports, Team Triathlon, Regions, Asia, Sport Development, 2013-05-03T09:23:54+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/Weekend_Race_Roundup_-_April_29 http://www.triathlon.org/site/Weekend_Race_Roundup_-_April_29#When:10:50:23Z This weekend, Japan cleaned up on continental champions in Asia at the Subic Bay ASTC Triathlon Asian Championships, while Europe saw stellar racing from Russia’s elites and juniors at the Antalya ITU Triathlon European Cup. 2013 Subic Bay ASTC Triathlon Asian Championships Reigning champions Mariko Adachi (JPN) and Yuichi Hosoda (JPN) each defended their Asian Championship titles on Saturday in Subic Bay. Adachi crushed the women’s competition, while Hosoda earned his third consecutive title in the men’s race in a tight battle. For a full recap of the elite men’s and women’s races, click here. Japan went on to capture the top spots in the Under23 and Junior races, with the only exception of the Junior men’s race. Karin Chibana broke away on the bike to earn the women’s U23 title, while Kohei Tsubaki dropped the field on the run for the men’s U23 championship. Fumika Matsumoto (JPN), who won the Junior women’s world championship race in 2012, again found herself in the gold medal position as the Junior Asian champion. In the Junior men’s race, Zhengyu Duan (CHN) earned the win with a blistering run split. Full results can be found here. 2013 Antalya ITU Triathlon European Cup Arina Shulgina and Vladimir Turbayevskiy both prevailed in two nail biting races to secure a double win for Russia at the ITU European Cup in Antalya. Their performances completed a strong weekend for the Russian team – earlier in the day, Russian athletes had secured three medals at the Junior European Cup. Shulgina and Turbayevskiy added two to the medal count and more importantly added the gold. For Shulgina, this was her first ever European Cup triathlon victory. She had to work hard though as Rebecca Robisch (GER) and Mateja Simic (SLO) pushed her all the way and only ten seconds covered the podium. Switzerland’s Florin Salvisberg secured only his second ever podium finish at this level to take the silver medal and Aaron Harris (GBR) also secured his first European podium since 2011 with the bronze. 2013 Antalya ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup Antalya has been a regular venue on the International triathlon calendar for four years but this was the first time it hosted a Junior European Cup alongside the Elite performers in an ITU European Cup. Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt and Laura Lindemann of Germany secured their first victories of 2013 by taking gold at the ETU Junior European Cup . For Lindemann, this was her first race at this level and she enjoyed a... Age Group, Events, Continental Championships, Regions, Asia, Europe, Sport Development, 2013-04-29T10:50:23+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/adachi_and_hosoda_defend_titles_at_asian_championships http://www.triathlon.org/site/adachi_and_hosoda_defend_titles_at_asian_championships#When:19:54:09Z Reigning champions Mariko Adachi (JPN) and Yuichi Hosoda (JPN) each defended their Asian Championship titles on Saturday in Subic Bay. Adachi crushed the women’s competition, while Hosoda earned his third consecutive title in the men’s race in a tight battle. Adachi stormed to the win, clearing the field by more than two minutes with a time of 2:14:17 for her second consecutive win at the championships and her third time medalling. Teammate Yuka Sato also repeated as the silver medallist in 2:16:38, while China’s Dan Fan rounded out the podium in 2:17:42. China dominated the top ten in the women’s race, with half of the group hailing from China. Adachi executed a smart race plan to maintain pace with the leaders through the first two disciplines. But all bets were off when she put feet to pavement, as she wasted no time smoking the competition with the fastest run split of the day by more than two minutes. Teammate Sato couldn’t maintain the ferocious velocity, but managed to drop Fran to secure silver. Fan was then left to fend off her teammates Mengying Zhong, Yi Zhang and Lingxi Xin, which is exactly what she did to take bronze. Women’s Results The men’s race saw a much closer fight for gold between the top three men, but it was Hosoda who dug deep to keep the Asian title. China’s Zhihang Jiang hung tight for a close finish, claiming second just six seconds later in 2:01:38 for his first podium at the championships since 2009. Ryosuke Yamamoto (JPN) cruised over the finish line in 2:01:52 to take bronze for the second straight year.  Chinese athletes led out of the water, followed quickly by pre-race favourite Hirokatsu Tayama (JPN). The men led a group of 14 athletes on the swim for nearly a four-minute advantage heading for the bike course. But all of that quickly changed on the bike when Hosoda and Shen-yen Hsieh (TPE) managed to power two minutes ahead of the leaders. Hosoda quickly dropped Hsieh, but failed to factor how strong Jiang and teammate Yamamoto were on the run. The pair blasted to sub-38 minute splits, while Tayama was slowing ahead. Jiang was within striking distance when he ran out of course, as Hosoda crossed over just seconds ahead for the win in 2:01:32. Men’s Results Events, Continental Championships, Regions, Asia, 2013-04-27T19:54:09+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/japanese_athletes_return_to_defend_titles_at_asian_championships http://www.triathlon.org/site/japanese_athletes_return_to_defend_titles_at_asian_championships#When:10:21:37Z This weekend, Subic Bay will welcome the Asian Championships for the first time since 2004. The coastal Philippine city is no stranger to race action, as it has often hosted Asian multisport events. The championships will be headlined by reigning champions Mariko Adachi and Yuichi Hosoda. In addition to the elite races, the Asian Championships will feature Under23, Junior and Mixed Relay races, as well as age-group and paratriathlon events from 27-29 April. Women’s Preview Japanese Olympian Mariko Adachi, will again wear No. 1 in the women’s race. After capping her 2012 season with a 14th-place finish at the London Olympics, Adachi recently returned to the ITU circuit this year with a seventh-place performance at the Ishigaki World Cup. Adachi is solid on the swim and bike, but will need to look out for teammate Yuka Sato on the run if she wants a shot at repeating as the Asian Champion. Sato appears to be in strong form with a world ranking of 15th after finishing sixth in the World Triathlon Auckland and second in Ishigaki. But Adachi and Sato will have to work together to hold off a large Chinese team made up primarily by Mengying Zhong, Yi Zhang and Lingxi Xin. Zhong is a steady force on the Asian Cup circuit, consistently finishing in the top 10. Zhang, who represented China in the Olympics, has the most experience on the Subic Bay course, having scored a top 5 finish at the Asian Cup held there last year. Men’s Preview Similar to the women’s race, the Japanese men present the biggest podium chances, with Olympians Yuichi Hosoda and Hirokatsu Tayama topping the start list followed by Ryosuke Yamamoto. The three men swept the podium last year in the exact order they’ll start in Subic Bay. Hosoda is riding a hot streak heading into the championships, coming off an eighth-place finish in Auckland. Tayama has just one race under his belt this season, where a slippery course led to ninth place in Ishigaki. London Olympian Faquan Bai (CHN) will post the biggest threat to the deep Japanese team. Bai recently collected bronze at the Chengdu ITU Triathlon Asian Cup. He will no doubt draw on his experience winning on the Subic Bay course last year to chase down the Japanese. The elite women will take on Saturday 27 April at 8:00am local time, while the men will start at 9:30am. The paratriathlon races will be held on Monday 29 April at 6:00am.  Events, Continental Championships, Regions, Asia, 2013-04-25T10:21:37+00:00