Paratriathlon

U.S. Elite Paratriathletes Win 6 Medals at 2025 Para World Championships

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by USA Triathlon

WOLLONGONG, Australia — U.S. Elite Paratriathletes Chris Hammer and Grace Norman won world titles at the 2025 World Triathlon Para Championships on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Wollongong, Australia, and Team USA won six medals total on a fantastic day of racing. 

Joining Hammer and Norman with World Championship medals: 

  • Hailey Danz — silver in the women's PTS2
  • Emelia Perry — silver in the women's PTWC
  • Danielle Cummings — silver in the women's PTS4
  • Mohamed Lahna — bronze in the men's PTS2

Norman cruised to gold in the women's PTS5 race, successfully defending her 2024 world title and clinching her sixth overall world title in her illustrious career. The Paris 2024 Paralympic gold medalist completed the sprint-distance course (750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, 5k run) in a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, 24 seconds  — nearly 4 minutes ahead of silver medalist Grace Brimelow of Great Britain. 

"It was an awesome day. I am super proud to win my sixth world championship," Norman said. "It was so fun to have some new faces out there today. I love it when new athletes come in and challenge us and push the pace. I can't wait for the mixed relay tomorrow and defend our title." 

Norman and her U.S. teammates will race on Sunday in the Para Mixed Relay World Championships, aiming to defend the 2024 world title from the debut of the Para Mixed Relay format a year ago. 

For Hammer, his world title on Saturday marked a triumphant return to the top of the World Championships podium after placing fourth at the 2024 World Championships following his long-sought Paralympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

Hammer's gold was won by two winning moves. Down from the leaders nearly 1 minute and 30 seconds after the swim, Hammer had work to do on the bike. He quickly made up that time. With a blazing fast second lap on the bike that saw him passing athletes going up the steep hills, Hammer reached transition in the lead along with Australia's Jack Howell. 

Hammer shot out of transition to take the lead on the run, but Howell responded, re-taking the lead midway through the first lap on the run. But Hammer "dropped the hammer" on the second lap on the run, pulling away from the upstart Aussie to leave no doubt who would win gold on this day. His 16:03 5k sealed the deal and Hammer cruised to the world title with a time of 58:32. 

"I'm feeling my age (39), but I still enjoy the sport. This was a blast today," said Hammer, who has learned to love the sport again after winning gold in Paris last year. "After Paris, I did Worlds last year, and I didn't do that great. My wife at that time was like, 'Did you lose that fire?' And maybe I did. But over the last few months, I really found my joy in training and suffering again. As long as I keep feeling like this, I'm going to keep giving the sport a shot."

Kicking off the final day at the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Wollongong is the second-ever Para Mixed Relay World Championships, with the U.S. aiming to defend its 2024 world title.

Age Group Team USA athletes will then team up for the Age Group Mixed Relay World Championships. 

Then at 2 p.m. local time, it is showdown time in the Women’s World Championships, with U.S. Elite Taylor Spivey in the mix to race for a podium spot. The past two world champions, Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) and Beth Potter (GBR) come into Australia tied in Series points, with Sunday's showdown the ultimate decider. 

In the men's race, always dangerous U.S. Elite Morgan Pearson comes to the World Championships looking for a repeat of his 2022 performance in Abu Dhabi where he captured silver. Australia's Matt Hauser aims to become his home country's first men's world champion in two decades. 

Live coverage

Para Mixed Relay: Sunday, Oct. 19, 8 a.m. AUS | Sat., Oct. 18, 5 p.m. ET 

Women's Finals: Sunday, Oct. 19, 2 p.m. AUS | Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 p.m ET 

Men's Finals: Sunday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. AUS | Sunday, Oct. 19, 2 a.m. ET

Fans can watch all the racing live and on-demand on TriathlonLive.tv. Buy your pass here to subscribe to TriathlonLive. Wollongong is 15 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. 

Wollongong, Australia | Oct. 18

750 meter swim, 20k bike, 5k run 

Complete Results

Men's PTWC 

1. Thomas Fruehwirth (AUT), 1:01:57

2. Florian Brungraber (AUT), 1:04:55

3. Louis Noel (FRA), 1:07:21

U.S. Finishers 

4. Howie Sanborn (Denver, Colo.), 1:09:02

8. Justin Pines (Littleton, Colo.), 1:13:17

Women's PTWC 

1. Lauren Parker (AUS), 1:10:44

2. Emelia Perry (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1:11:54 

3. Jessica Ferreira (BRA), 1:12:46

U.S. Finishers 

6. Skyler Fisher (Dallas, Texas), 1:24:51

Men's PTS2

1. Jules Ribstein (FRA), 1:09:21

2. Wim De Paepe (BEL), 1:10:04

3. Mohamed Lahna (Hayward, Calif.), 1:10:13

U.S. Finishers 

4. Mark Barr (Davis, Calif.), 1:12:40

6. Kyle Stepp (Albuquerque, N.M.), 1:14:46

Women's PTS2

1. Anu Francis (AUS), 1:18:56

2. Hailey Danz (Denver, Colo.), 1:19:19

3. Asumi Yasuda (JPN), 1:22:57

U.S. Finishers 

4. Allysa Seely (Glendale, Ariz.), 1:25:35

Men's PTS3

1. Henry Urand (GBR), 1:06:14

2. Ryan Taylor (GBR), 1:08:36

3. Daniel Molina (ESP), 1:09:19

Women's PTS3

1. Elise Marc (FRA), 1:18:18

2. Anna Plotnikova (AIN), 1:20:33

3. Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas (MEX), 1:22:33

Men's PTS4

1. Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA), 58:39

2. Pierre-Antoine Baele (FRA), 1:00:21

3. Nil Riudavets Victory (ESP), 1:00:56

U.S. Finishers 

8. Carson Clough (Charlotte, N.C.), 1:05:42

Women's PTS4

1. Camille Seneclauze (FRA), 1:15:49

2. Danielle Cummings (Albuquerque, N.M.), 1:19:44

3. Hannah MacDougall (AUS), 1:20:55

U.S. Finishers 

Men's PTS5

1. Chris Hammer (Gilbert, Ariz.), 58:33

2. Jack Howell (AUS), 59:01

3. Martin Schulz (GER), 59:23

Women's PTS5

1. Grace Norman (Jamestown, Ohio), 1:05:24

2. Grace Brimelow (AUS), 1:09:13

3. Lauren Steadman (GBR), 1:10:27

U.S. Finishers

6. Virginia Ogburn (Charlotte, N.C.), 1:18:46

7. Michelle Dynes (Waukon, Iowa), 1:20:06

Men's PTVI

1. Dave Ellis (GBR), 59:21

2. Antoine Perel (FRA), 59:40

3. Lazar Filipovic (SRB), 59:45

Women's PTVI

1. Susana Rodriguez (ESP), 1:04:43

2. Francesca Tarantello (ITA), 1:06:57

3. Anja Renner (GER), 1:08:10

U.S. Finishers 

4. McClain Hermes (Dacula, Ga.), Guide Jenna Haufler, 1:09:03

9. Taylor Talbot (Ontario, Ore.) Guide Amy Cymerman, 1:14:39

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.