Triathlon Australia today revealed a full strength paratriathlon squad that will compete at the 2019 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Lausanne on Sunday 1 September.

The squad named is world class with Paralympic, Commonwealth and World Championship medallists included, and aiming for more medals in an event that continues to go to another level in competitiveness.

The Paralympic qualification period commenced 29 June 2019 and means the World Champions race takes on a much higher level of significance in progressing world rankings and accumulating points towards Tokyo for our eligible athletes.

Emily Tapp is the defending champion after a win on home soil last year (Gold Coast) and will head to Lausanne looking for a three-peat having also won in 2017. Lauren Parker who won bronze behind Tapp last year and Nic Beveridge who was sidelined following wrist surgery will represent the PTWC class. 2018 was a memorable year for this trio as each earned medals at the Commonwealth Games  on the Gold Coast – Tapp and Beveridge silver medals and Parker the bronze.

2016 Paralympic champion Katie Kelly is aiming to defend her title at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and Lausanne will be a key race towards that goal. Kelly finished third with new guide Briarna Silk at last years’ World Championship on the Gold Coast. Four time Oceania champion Jonathan Goerlach just missed the podium at the Gold Coast World Championships last year and looking for redemption. Relative newcomer to paratriathlon but not to international competition Gerrard Gosens rounds out the PTVI category athletes.

2016 Rio Paralympian Kate Doughty (PTS5) missed last year’s world championships following the birth of her first child but has been slowly building back to her best. David Bryant is not new to triathlon, but a re-classification has seen him categorized as a PTS5 athlete in 2019. He has already made his mark winning the Devonport Paratriathlon World Cup and national title.

Sally Pilbeam (PTS4) has an extraordinary world championship record, with two gold and three silver medals since 2014. 2019 World Cup medallist Clint Pickin along with Liam Twomey have also been named.

Final team representation will be dependant on allocation of start positions by the ITU.

Details:
Event: 2019 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Lausanne
Friday 30 August Junior Women | Junior Men | Under 23 Women | Under 23 Men
Saturday 31 August Elite Men | Elite Women
Sunday 1 September Paratriathlon 

Male Female
Nic Beveridge (Queensland) Kate Doughty (Victoria)
David Bryant (Western Australia) Katie Kelly (ACT)
Jonathan Goerlach (New South Wales) Lauren Parker (New South Wales)
Gerrard Gosens (Queensland) Sally Pilbeam (Western Australia)
Clint Pickin (Victoria) Emily Tapp (ACT)
Liam Twomey (Victoria)

Note:
Qualification Period:
29 June 2019 - 29 June 2020

Sport classes for Tokyo 2020:
Women: PTWC, PTS2, PTS5 and PTVI
Men: PTWC, PTS4, PTS5 and PTVI