Spain – Canada’s Stefan Daniel is on top of the world again. The 27-year-old Calgarian bounced back from a crash in the Paralympic Games last month to win the gold medal in the men’s PT5 category at the Para triathlon world championships recently. It was Daniel’s sixth career world crown.
‘’It feels quite good after some tough luck in Paris,’’ said Daniel, who crashed in the bike portion of the race of the Games and wound-up 10th. ‘’The Games were the whole goal of the year, but I was able to pick myself up the past four to five weeks… it wasn’t easy at all.’’ Daniel, also world champion in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 as well as a Paralympic Games medallist in 2016 and 2020, clocked 59 minutes and 26 seconds for the win under the glorious Spanish sunshine.
Jack Howell of Australia was second in 1:00:13 and Filipe Marques of Portugal third in 1:00.43. Paralympic Games champion Chris Hammer was fourth. ‘’I was happy I was able to stick with it and put it in one more strong effort here. I’m really happy with the result,’’ Daniel said. Daniel posted the fourth-best time in the swim, he was the fastest on the 19.1 kilometre bike race, and maintained the lead with the second fastest time on the five kilometre run.
‘’It took me a couple of laps on the bike to get out front and put out a decent run to close it out,’’ he said. ‘’Paralympic years are hard and my body is pretty much toast now. ‘’I’m looking forward to a break now and then start a new quad for L.A. (the 2028 Paralympics).’’
Canada’s other entry Leanne Taylor of Winnipeg took fourth spot in the women’s wheelchair category. She won the bronze medal in Paris, the first podium for a Canadian woman in the sport. Paralympic silver medallist Kendall Gretsch of the U.S. was the victor in 1:07:31, Jessica Ferreira of Brazil followed in 1:07.45, and Games champion Lauren Parker of Australia was third in 1:08.57.
Taylor finished with the third best time for the wheelchair racing portion to climb to fourth in 1:10.07. The 31-year-old enjoyed the best season of her career in 2024. Besides the medal in Paris, she was on the podium in her three Para triathlon World Series appearances which included her first career gold on the circuit.
Source: https://paralympic.ca/news/