U.S. Elite Paratriathletes Win 7 Medals at World Triathlon Para World Cup Paris

PARIS — Seven U.S. elite paratriathletes won medals on Saturday at the 2023 World Triathlon Para World Cup Paris, held on the same course featuring iconic Paris landmarks that will host the 2024 Paralympic Games Paris. 

The race format was modified to a duathlon (run-bike-run) format due to discrepancies with the water testing in the Seine River. With the change in format to a duathlon, the World Triathlon Para World Cup Paris no longer had Paralympic qualification implications for U.S. athletes. 

Elite paratriathletes took the format modification in stride, however, with Grace Norman, Chris Hammer (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Kelly Elmlinger (San Antonio, Texas) leading the way in Paris for the U.S. by striking gold on the iconic Ponte Alexandre III bridge. 

A two-time Paralympic medalist, Norman continued her 2023 undefeated streak, winning the PTS5 race in a time of 59 minutes, 26 seconds on the 2.5k run, 18.5k bike and 5k run course that took athletes up the Champs-Elysees, along the Quai D’Orsay and Boulevard St Germain and Invalides and Ponte Alexandre III bridges. 

“Waking up this morning to see it was going to be a duathlon – my heart kind of sank a little bit, but we kind of knew it was a possibility. I was happy we got to do the full bike course because that’s the main technical thing that will be important for next year. It was fun to get into race mode on the bike,” Norman said. “This is probably the most iconic place I’ve ever raced. For the Games, I’m really excited to see what they do next year for all the venues and the ceremonies.” 

Hammer also won, in the men’s PTS5 race, while Elmlinger took gold in the women’s PTS4, with a winning margin of more than 6 minutes. 

“The course is amazing. At course familiarization the other day I could tell this was going to be a lot of fun, with all the twists and turns and the way it’s situated in the middle of Paris. Today, I had a lot fun out there. The course is quite technical, but it really makes you have to be engaged. Huge thanks to the crowd. Huge thanks to the fans of Paris,” Elmlinger said. 

Paralympic medalists Kendall Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.) and Hailey Danz (Colorado Springs) each won silver, in their respective PTWC and PTS2 classifications. 

Collecting bronze medals for Team USA included Paralympian Mohamed Lahna (Elk Grove, Calif.) in PTS2 and Project Podium athlete Owen Cravens (Algonquin, Il.), guided by elite triathlete Ben Hoffman (Tucson, Ariz.), in the PTVI classification. 

SUNDAY RACE SCHEDULE 

The four days of racing in Paris concludes with the elite Mixed Relay event on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 2 a.m. ET (8 a.m. local time in Paris). 

The Mixed Relay event showcases the fast-paced, team-oriented race format that made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Mixed Relay teams are comprised of four athletes — competing in the order of man, woman, man, woman — with each team member completing a 300m swim, 7.4k bike and 2k run before tagging their next teammate. 

The U.S. quartet of Katie Zaferes, Kevin McDowell, Taylor Knibb and Morgan Pearson won Olympic silver in Tokyo.

Teams from 22 nations are set to compete in Paris on Sunday. 

HOW TO WATCH 

All the races will be available live and on demand on TriathlonLIVE.tv. World Triathlon is offering a special Pay-Per-View pass for the events in Paris.

World Triathlon Para World Cup Paris
2.5k run run, 18.5k bike, 5k run  
*format switched to duathlon (run-bike-run)

PTWC

Women

1. Lauren Parker (AUS), 59:14

2. Kendall Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.), 1:00:44

3. Jessica Ferreira (BRA), 1:03:31

Men

1. Jetze Platt (NED), 52:18

2. Geert Schipper (NED), 53:12

3. Florian Brungraber (AUT), 53:53

U.S. Finishers

7. Howie Sanborn (Denver, Colo.), 1:05:25

PTVI

Women 

1. Anja Renner (GER), 1:03:16

2. Annouck Curzillat (FRA), 1:04:06

3. Francesca Tarantello (ITA), 1:04:33

Men 

1. Dave Ellis (GB), 53:39

2. Sam Harding (AUS), 55:13

3. Owen Cravens (Algonquin, Il.), with guide Ben Hoffman (Tucson, Ariz.) 55:17

PTS5

Women 

1. Grace Norman (Jamestown, Ohio), 59:26

2. Claire Cashmore (GB), 1:02:50

3. Kamylle Frentte (CAN), 1:03:21

Men 

1. Chris Hammer (Gilbert, Ariz.), 53:49

2. Ronan Cordeiro (BRA), 54:18

3. Stefan Daniel (CAN), 54:47

PTS4

Women 

1. Kelly Elmlinger (San Antonio, Texas), 1:06:13

2. Marta Frances Gomez (ESP), 1:12:47

3. Elke Van Engelen (GER),1:12:50

U.S. Finishers

5. Emma Meyers (Pensacola, Fla.),1:16:31

Men 

1. Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA), 55:38

2. Pierre-Antoine Baele (FRA), 55:45

3. Hideki Uda (JPN), 58:13

U.S. Finishers 

7. Eric McElvenny (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 1:00:30 

PTS3

Women 

1. Elise Marc (FRA),1:07:45

2. Sanne Koopman (NED), 1:23:35

3. No finisher

Men 

1. Daniel Molina (ESP), 1:05:32

2. Cedric Denuziere (FRA), 1:05:49

3. Nico Van Der Burgt (NED), 1:07:14

PTS2

Women 

1. Anu Francis (AUS), 1:11:46

2. Hailey Danz (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:12:13

3. Veronica Yoko Plebani (ITA), 1:15:52

U.S. Finishers

4. Melissa Stockwell (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1:18:26

Men 

1. Mauritis Morsink (NED), 1:00:24

2. Geoffrey Wersy (FRA), 1:03:17

3. Mohamed Lahna (Elk Grove, Calif.), 1:03:18

U.S. Finishers 

5. Mark Barr (Davis, Calif.), 1:04:19 

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 4,000 races and connects with more than 400,000 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 Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) – to learn more: usatriathlon.org.