WEIHEI, Chn— Tyler Mislawchuk continues to prove age is just a number after swimming, cycling and running to the bronze medal step of the World Triathlon Championship Series podium on Saturday morning in Weihei, China.
The 32-year-old captured the second World Triathlon Series podium of his career, and first since 2019 when he hopped onto the third step of the podium at home in Montreal.
“I am pretty stoked. I’ve had a good season with results at World Cups, but this is my first World Triathlon Championship Series podium in seven years,” beamed Mislawchuk. “This is my fourth Olympic campaign. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in at 32 years young, but that’s just a number.
“It’s been a long road, and it means a lot to me. I want to thank everyone in my corner throughout all of it. It’s just a matter of showing up on the good days and the bad.”
The three-time Olympian from Oak Bluff, Man. showed up on Saturday, completing the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike and 10-kilometre run in a time of 1:41:25.
Mislawchuk came out of the choppy, two-lap swim in 17th spot before bouncing around in the lead pack of 28 for eight trips around the slick bike course that forced the world’s best to ride cautiously. When foot hit pavement, Mislawchuk raced at the front of a group of five that opened a 15-second gap on the field within the first of the four-lap run test. The trio took their turns at the front until the final charge to the blue carpet when he was dropped to third place, 17 seconds behind the race winner, Max Struder.
“It been seven years with a lot of close calls, but there is nothing like being on the WTCS podium while going up against the best guys in the world,” added Mislawchuk. “I saw an opportunity today, and three kilometres into the run I went for it. The whole last five kilometres, I kept saying this is what you train for every day. It feels good to do it at the top level.”
Switzerland’s Struder clocked a golden time of 1:41:08. Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo completed the Olympic distance test in a time of 1:41:18 for second spot on the men’s podium.
It has been quite a run for Mislawchuk. The veteran of the Canadian Triathlon Team snagged his 10th-career World Triathlon Cup podium last month when he captured the silver in Edmonton. He also battled to his fourth World Triathlon Cup victory in June. Mislawchuk was ninth at the 2024 Olympics and at the 2025 World Championships.
Earlier this season, Mislawchuk’s Olympic teammate – Charles Paquet – also claimed his first World Triathlon Championship Series podium, taking the bronze medal in Samarkand following a handful of top-five finishes.
Liam Donnelly was the only other Canadian in the men’s field on Saturday but did not finish.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Desirae Ridenour matched her career-best eighth-place finish in the women’s race in Weihai, China for the second-straight season.
The 26-year-old completed all three legs in a time of 1:50:58.
Ridenour, who became the first Canadian woman in more than 10 years to win a World Triathlon Cup in 2025, has never looked back turning in strong performances throughout the last two seasons.
That was no different on Saturday in China. The Cowichan Bay resident was rock solid throughout the three-sport discipline test.
Cassandre Beaugrand, of France, was the top woman on the day, claiming the gold medal with a time of 1:49:20. Beth Potter, of Great Britain, was second at 1:49:26. Germany’ s Lisa Tertsch was third at 1:49:44.
Emy Legault, of L’Île Perrot, Que., was 30th at 1:55:54.
