More than 20 amateur athletes braved the cold waters of Hackney’s West Reservoir Centre as British Triathlon launched the 50-day countdown to the return of World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) racing in London.
Community Event Highlights Triathlon Accessibility
The event featured an open water swim taster session, showcasing British Triathlon’s efforts to work with London community groups to create more opportunities for participation in triathlon. The launch looked ahead to the upcoming WTCS in London on 25 July, part of the broader London T100 weekend.
Paralympian Mel Nicholls, who competed in Para Athletics at London 2012, was present to offer advice to the athletes, many of whom are new to the sport. “Just enjoy it,” she said. “Be in the moment, take a breath, and look around you. It's about the people. Triathlon is a solo sport, but the community it builds is really important. And it provides great life skills - learning to swim, to get on a bike, to run. So, give it a go and don't compare yourself to anybody else because it's your moment. And you never just do one triathlon - there's always more.”
Swim Session Led by Community Coach
Elena Rodolfi, a swimming coach from community group BADU, led the swim session, which included breathing exercises and safety advice. She is guiding a group of 100 BADU athletes competing at the London T100 weekend, where thousands of amateur triathletes will tackle various distances. “At BADU, we’re trying to engage the inactive people in the community, especially from the global majority, who are usually not as visible in the swimming or triathlon environment,” Rodolfi said. “Opportunities like this give our athletes trained coaches to learn from and the support of everyone. I can’t wait to do the next one - I’m still buzzing from this.”
Building a Legacy for Triathlon in London
The British Triathlon initiative aims to build a legacy for the sport in London by increasing participation in clubs and events and making triathlon more accessible. Reyss Wheeler, founder of women’s health organisation STUK, is facing her own fears to demonstrate that anything is possible. “I can run and I can cycle,” she said. “But this is my first time in the water in 27 years. I'm having to combat my lifelong fear of water to make sure the women in our community see that it’s possible.” Wheeler is one of 20 women from STUK taking part in the London T100 race.
WTCS Returns to London After Nine Years
Wheeler hopes her team will be inspired by the professionals when WTCS racing returns to London on 25 July for the first time since 2015. Around 100 of the world’s top triathletes are set to compete, including top British names like Olympic champion Alex Yee and former World Champion and current leader in the 2026 World Championship, Beth Potter. The event, based around ExCeL London in the Docklands, is free to watch, and the sprint format promises fast, spectator-friendly racing, with both elite races finishing in under an hour.
