2026 Development Team
USA Triathlon Elite Development Teams exist to identify, support, and elevate athletes with the potential to represent the United States on the world stage.
By investing in performance, progression, and people, the program creates a clear pathway from promise to podium.
The U25 Development Team is named after longtime triathletes and USA Triathlon Foundation donors Audra and Michael Mallow.
Luke Anthony | East Lyme, Ct.
Blake Bullard | Southlake, Texas
Jimena de la Peña | El Paso, Texas
Faith Duncan | Lebanon, Ohio
Joy Gill | San Antonio, Texas
Isaac Lamprecht | New Kent, Va.
Zach Leachman | Mars, Pa.
Braxton Legg | Tampa, Fla.
Porter Middaugh | Vail, Colo.
Sullivan Middaugh | Vail, Colo.
Keller Norland | Corvallis, Oregon
Ruth Pardy | Sioux Falls, S.D.
Naomi Ruff | West Chicago, Ill.
Carter Stuhlmacher | Clermont, Fla.
Mia Wentzy | Sioux Falls, S.D.
Kelly Wetteland | Los Alamos, N.M.
AUXO Collective
LEARN MOREAUXO Collective is a high-performance U.S. triathlon development team based in North Carolina and operating in partnership with the United States Performance Center in Charlotte, N.C. The group is open to both male and female triathletes but will specialize in developing the next generation of women’s champions.
Paratriathlon Resident Team
LEARN MOREBased at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, paralympians and up-and-coming paratriathletes train together in a daily high performance environment under a resident team coach. Starting in 2024, the team will be led by 2004 U.S. Olympian and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic guide Andy Potts.
Project Podium
LEARN MOREProject Podium is a USA Triathlon men’s elite development program based at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona, designed to further develop top young male U.S. elite triathletes and help them achieve medal performances in the Olympic Games.
High School Recruitment Program
LEARN MORE, opens in a new tabThe USA Triathlon High School Recruitment Program is an elite program that focuses on finding, advising, and supporting world class dual-sport athletes (running and swimming). The primary objective is to introduce these athletes to Draft-Legal Triathlon.
The program focuses solely on Draft-Legal racing, with the goal of helping specially identified athletes progress from being introduced to the sport of triathlon, to pursuing the USAT Olympic development pathway.
Talent ID Program
REACH OUT, opens in a new tabThe USA Triathlon Talent ID Program is a highly selective, two-year pathway focused exclusively on draft-legal World Triathlon racing.
Designed to identify and develop world-class runners with strong swim backgrounds and elite swimmers with proven running ability, the program supports athletes at the start of their professional careers as they pursue success at the highest level, including the Olympic Games. Targeting collegiate athletes ages 20–23, Talent ID has helped launch the careers of Olympians and medalists such as Gwen Jorgensen, Katie Zaferes, Morgan Pearson, and more.
Are you next? Email us or learn more below.
Based on an athlete’s current, past, and/or projected swim and run metrics, USA Triathlon (USAT) will determine whether or not an invite to a Talent ID camp is warranted. If an athlete receives an invite to a TID camp, they will move onto step 2.
At camp athletes will get thorough mentorship from world class coaches, and learn everything from A -Z about draft-legal triathlon. 50% of camp will be focused on teaching athletes bike skills, but there will also be swimming and running involved. Athletes will be assessed on their attitude, adeptness, mentality, bike skills, and commitment. After camp, if athlete is interested in pursuing a future in draft-legal triathlon, they will move on to step 3.
After camp every athlete will have an individual call to discuss their next steps. Each athlete will have a different pathway that makes sense for them personally, and USAT will help the athlete create a future plan of action. Once a decision has been made on the athlete’s future pathway, a select few will move onto step 4.
Funding agreements are all discretionary and personal to each athlete, and will describe in detail what funding, gear, and incentives the program can provide the athlete. Agreements get updated every 3 months, and will continue for a maximum of 2 years. If athlete fails to stay uninjured, or hit basic race metrics for multiple agreements, then their position in the CRP program will be reassessed and they will be given specific incentives to hit to be able to continue in the program.
After signing the agreement, athlete will work with USAT to roughly map out the season, complete all necessary paperwork, get connected with a proper coaching/training environment, and execute on performance metrics.
World Leading swim and run times are an average of what the top athletes at the WTCS level are capable of doing in those individual events.
Internationally Ranked swim and run times are an average of what the top athletes at the World Cup level are capable of doing in those individual events.
Nationally Competitive swim and run times are an average of what the top athletes at the Continental Cup level are capable of doing in those individual events.
Development Potential swim and run times are an average of what the top athletes at domestic Draft Legal races are capable of doing in those individual events.
The bike data is what can be expected IN an actual draft legal triathlon race.
World leading = World Triathlon Championship Series
Internationally Ranked = World Cup
Nationally Competitive = Continental Cup
Development Potential = Domestic Draft-Legal
Olympic style triathlon is made up of swimming, cycling, and running, and the Olympic Games include two events: Individual Race and Team Mixed Relay.
- The individual Olympic distance race is a 1.5k swim (.9 mile) / 40k bike (24.8 mile) / 10k run (6.2 mile).
- The Mixed Relay is made up of 2 men and 2 women where each athlete completes a mini-triathlon: 300m swim / 6k bike (3.7 mile) / 1.6k run (1 mile)
- Discover the Men's race and Women's race at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The bike is “draft-legal” which means you ride a road bike (not a time trial bike) and athletes are allowed to ride in a group (as opposed to solo).
USA Triathlon is the National Federation and World Triathlon is the International Federation.
There are three levels of World Triathlon racing: Continental Cup, World Cup, and World Triathlon Championship Series.
You earn points at each race and those points determine both your country ranking and world ranking.
Prize money is ALWAYS equal for men and women at every race around the world.
Personal/Individual sponsorships are allowed (even encouraged) when racing for the USA Triathlon National Team.
Additional racing opportunities (in addition to the Olympic-Distance and Team Mixed Relay):
- Sprint-Distance (750m swim / 20k bike / 5k run)
- Super Sprint (300m Swim / 7k bike / 2.5k run) - this race format typically coincides with a Semi-Finals & Finals Format
- Eliminator (Multiple rounds of Super Sprint Distance where the last 10 athletes are eliminated)
- eSports World Championships (Indoor triathlon raced in a pool, and on a virtual platform for the bike and run. The bike and run are on trainers and a treadmill)
Equipment necessary: Triathlon suit, swim cap, goggles, road bike, triathlon bike shoes, helmet, run shoes