WOLLONGONG, Aus.— Tyler Mislawchuk and Charles Paquet matched their 2024 Olympic finishes, racing to ninth and 13th respectively at the World Championships in Wollongong, Australia on Sunday.
The 29-year-old once again proved he’s amongst the world’s elite while racing at the front of the pack throughout the three Olympic distance disciplines to post a finishing time of 1:44:00 and finish ninth at World Championships for the second straight year.
“The streak of ninth – I don’t know if it is a blessing or a curse,” laughed Mislawchuk. “I am happy to be racing within 10 seconds of a medal. That is closer than I’ve ever been to a podium that late in a Grand Final race so I’m pretty happy with it.”
It was the fifth ninth the Oak Bluff, Man. resident has had in the last three years at a World Championships – Hamburg, Pontevedra, Paris, Torremolinos and now Wollongong.
Mislawchuk came out of the challenging 1.5-kilometre swim in 10th spot.
“It was pretty choppy, pretty technical,” he added. “The savviness of it played to my strength. It was hard to tell where you were, but it was a solid swim for me.”
Mislawchuk dug deep for the eight-lap technical and hilly bike course, climbing closer to the top of the pack to position himself well for the 10-kilometre run where he showcased his fitness matching strides with the world elite.
Mislawchuk was in good company with his Olympic teammate, Charles Paquet, also battling to a top 15 finish. The Port Cartier, Que. resident scrapped his way from back in the 52-man field after the swim to place 13th at 1:44:32.
“I managed to have quite a good race. That was one of the craziest swims I’ve ever done. The chop was big, so I was pretty dead after one leg on the swim,” said Paquet, who added he had limited training coming into the race after suffering a concussion just over a month ago. “I knew I didn’t have the training, so I tried to save my legs on the bike. It was so hard so I’m happy to finish where I am considering everything.”
Paquet, who was also 13th at the 2024 Olympics, conserved his legs in the large pack on the eight-lap bike course before making his mark over the five laps on the run where he picked up 15 spots on the field.
Australia’s Matthew Hauser was crowned World Champion with a time of 1:42:42. Spain’s David Cantero Del Camp stopped the clock at 1:43:15 for second place, while Italy’s Alessio Crociani snagged the bronze medal at 1:43:22.
Emy Legault was the lone Canadian woman to finish. The 2024 Olympian from L’Île Perrot, Que. placed 30th with a time of 2:02:22.
“It was really hard from the swim in the waves to a challenging bike course,” said Legault. “I had some trouble with a seized up back so the run was really challenging because I couldn’t breathe well. I just tried to find some rhythm and be patient. I knew at some point I would be able to catch up to some people. I did the best I could with what I was given today.”
Desirae Ridenour (Cowichan Bay, B.C.) did not finish.
Germany’s Lisa Tertsch was crowned the Queen of women’s triathlon, taking the tap with a time of 1:56:50. Italy’s Bianca Seregni finished 14 seconds back in the silver-medal position at 1:57:04. Emma Lombardi, of France, rounded out the women’s podium with a time of 1:57:16.
