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Olympians, Elite Triathletes Set to Race at 2026 Americas Cup Gulfport

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by USA Triathlon

U.S. elite triathletes racing at Americas Cup in Miami.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Olympians and stars of the future will race professional, short-course triathlon in Gulfport, Mississippi, on Friday, March 27 at the 2026 Americas Triathlon Cup Gulfport, hosted by CLASH Endurance.

2016 Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen and fellow U.S. Triathlon National Team member Darr Smith headline the U.S. professional athlete start list. Athletes from more than 20 countries will race, including Paris 2024 Olympians Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto of Colombia and Erica Hawley of Bermuda. 

Athletes racing the Americas Triathlon Cup Gulfport will compete in a draft-legal sprint-distance triathlon comprised of a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike and 5k run. 

All competitors are chasing valuable ranking points to determine their eligibility to enter the World Triathlon Championship Series events, World Triathlon Cup events and World Triathlon Continental Championship events. 

In addition to Americas Triathlon Cup Miami, CLASH Endurance is also hosting the 2026 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships. Read more about Collegiate Club Nationals.

This is the first year for elite-level Americas Cup triathlon racing to be held in Coastal Mississippi, home to historic cities Gulfport and Biloxi. Visitors to Coastal Mississippi can experience many family-friendly attractions in addition to championship golf, non-stop casinos, and Gulf-to-table cuisine.

Triathletes will swim in a protected saltwater course in the Gulf of America adjacent to the newly rebuilt Gulfport Municipal Marina. The controlled bike course will take athletes east from Jones Park along Beach Rd (US-90) toward Biloxi on a flat and fast, coastal ride. A scenic run will wind through a variety of Gulfport’s coastal neighborhoods, showcasing local southern hospitality and support, a quality in which the area has become known. 

Who is Racing

Gwen Jorgensen starts her 2026 season in Gulfport. A member of the U.S. Triathlon National Team, the two-time Olympian and 2016 Olympic gold medalist started a family and pursued a professional running career following the Rio 2016 Games. She returned to the sport of triathlon in 2023. 

“I love being able to race in the USA and wish there were more opportunities to race on home soil.  I'm always motivated to race at home and test my early season race fitness,” Jorgensen said. “I am very excited that my family will be able to come watch me race live. Last year I raced in Florida at a different CLASH race and it was exciting to see so many Team USA fans cheering me on. CLASH always puts on great events so it's an easy decision to race this race in Gulfport.” 

Fellow U.S. Triathlon National Team member Darr Smith also begins his 2026 season in Gulfport. He looks forward to racing close to home on a race weekend that also features the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships and age group races. 

“Being able to race close to home for the season opener helps take a lot of the stress of a big travel away and let me focus on prep and racing well. My favorite part of these Americas Cup races being hosted in conjunction with age group events is it allows a huge segment of the triathlon population in the U.S. to come together for a whole weekend of racing,” Smith said. “This is always fun for the pros to have more exposure with spectators but also a great reminder of the greater multisport community. It’s easy to forget how big this sport is when you line up on the other side of the world with just 55 guys.” 

Smith is a longtime triathlete who came up through USA Triathlon’s junior development teams. He earned two Youth Elite National Champion titles and a Junior Elite National Champion title. Racing consistently on the 2025 WTCS circuit, Smith notched a top-10 performance at WTCS Weihai and has been a key contributor to U.S. squads at major global events. 

More than 50 U.S. athletes are set to race in Gulfport with Jorgensen and Smith, including many athletes on the USA Triathlon Development Teams, the top junior and U25 athletes in the U.S. Development Team athletes racing: 

  • Faith Duncan
  • Joy Gill
  • Ruth Pardy
  • Mia Wentzy
  • Kelly Wetteland
  • Blake Bullard
  • Porter Middaugh
  • Sullivan Middaugh 
  • Keller Norland

Visit World Triathlon’s website for more information about the 2026 Americas Triathlon Cup Gulfport, including full start lists. 

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.