PONTEVEDRA, Spain — West Vancouver’s Sidney Clement raced her way into the Canadian triathlon history books on Friday, fighting her way to a bronze medal in the women’s U23 race at the World Triathlon Championships Grand Final in Pontevedra, Spain.
The 21-year-old remained composed through the opening two disciplines before unleashing one of the fastest runs in the field to cross the finish line in 2:01:06, securing Canada’s first U23 women’s World Triathlon Championships medal since 2013.
“I’m over the moon with my race today. Podiuming at a World Championships is a dream come true for me,” said Clement. “I never thought it would happen. I just can’t believe it.”
Clement exited the 1.5-kilometre swim in 10th position before settling into a large chase group during the 40-kilometre bike.
“I had a rough first lap of the swim, but I told myself before the race that anything can happen, it’s a long race and if something goes poorly to keep believing until the end,” said Clament. “Heading into the second lap I knew I had work to do. I was able to move up a lot in second lap.”
From there, Clement made her move. Working her way through the technical Pontevedra course, she entered the second transition in ninth.
“I just made that front bike pack. The girls were working well together, and I did what I could do to contribute,” she said. “Off the bike, the first few steps of the run felt wobblily, but I quickly got into a rhythm.”
She certainly did. And found herself in a battle for the final podium position on the 10-kilometre course, eventually breaking clear of Great Britain’s Bethany Cook to secure third. The Canadian held off a late charge from top-seeded Naomi Ruff of the United States, who had moved from 26th out of T2 into the top five before the finish.
“I just tried not to think about what was happening and tried to stay focused, relax and within myself,” added Clement.
France’s Ilona Hadhoum captured the U23 world title in 1:58:11, with teammate Lea Houart taking silver in 1:59:26. Hadhoum established herself at the front of the race during the bike and then produced a blistering 10-kilometre run to secure the victory.
Clement emerged from a battle on the bike that included 11 athletes with the bronze.
“This is just a dream come true. I just can’t think everyone in my corner enough, especially my coaches and teammates at Arizona State who make training so much fun, and we push each other every day,” added Clement, whose family was also on-site in Pontevedra on Friday. “I can’t thank my family, my parents enough. They are my biggest supporters and I’m super excited to celebrate with them. I’m just so grateful to have the opportunity to be racing the best girls in the world. Huge congrats goes to those two front girls who were in a league of their own today.”
Her result makes her just the sixth Canadian to reach the podium in U23 women’s racing at the World Triathlon Championships, joining: Ellen Pennock (silver – 2013); Amélie Kretz (bronze – 2013); Joanna Brown (bronze – 2012); Kirsten Sweetland (silver – 2010); and Paula Findlay (bronze – 2009).
“It means so much to me to be in this group. I grew up watching these women and they’re all role models to me,” said Clement. “To be named in the same list as them is truly unbelievable and such and honour.”
The podium capped a strong day for Canada, with Isla Britton (Montreal) finishing 12th in 2:02:28, followed by Maira Carreau (Montreal) 15th at 2:02:49 and Alexandra Campbell (Kingston, Ont.), who placed 19th in 2:03:15. Beatrice Filion (Candiac, Que.) finished 36th in 2:06:45.
In the men’s U23 race, Blake Harris (Sanford, Man.) was Canada’s top finisher in 48th place in 1:52:37, while Lukas Vadeika (Mount Albert, Ont.) finished 57th in 1:57:43.
Earlier in the day, Paralympic bronze medallist at Paris 2024, Leanne Taylor (Oak Bluff, Man.), led a trio of Canucks in the Para races. Taylor placed in fifth in the women’s wheelchair racing category, clocking a time of 1:16:21. Two-time Paralympic medallist, and six-time World Champion, Stefan Daniel (Calgary) was sixth in men’s standing classification, clocking a time of 1:01:28. Rookies Margot Wehrle (Victoria) and her guide, Elani Bykowski (Lethbridge, Alta.) were eighth in the women’s visually impaired classification.
Complete details for the 2026 Grand Final can be found here.
