Wollongong will be buzzing as locals and visitors turn up to watch an international sporting event on our doorstep. Photo: Con Chronis/AusTriathlon.
The Illawarra is getting a front row seat to an international sporting event this week as the World Triathlon Championship Finals come to town.
While the city is already buzzing with athletes and fans, the event officially begins on Wednesday night (15 October) from 5 pm with the opening ceremony parade from Marine Drive to Lang Park showcasing all the nations that have come to Wollongong.
Four more days of action follow the official opening.
Here’s your guide to what’s on and how you can be a part of it.
THE EVENTS
Thursday 16 October
7:45 am: The first races to watch will be the Standard Distance Championships by age group, which begin from Belmore Basin. Competitors are grouped into age brackets starting from 18 and ranging to 84 years to complete a 1500 m swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run.
10 am: Standard Aquabike Championships by age group start from Belmore Basin, which includes a 1500 m swim and 40 km bike ride.
1:15 pm: Under 23 Men’s Championship starts from Belmore Basin, which includes a 1500 m swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. The medal ceremony for this race will be held at the finish line at 3:25 pm.
4:15 pm: Under 23 Women’s Championship starts from Belmore Basin, also consisting of a 1500 m swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. The medal ceremony will be held at the finish line at 6:30 pm.
7 pm: Medal ceremonies for the Standard Distance Championships held at Lang Park.
7:30 pm: Medal ceremonies for the Standard Distance Aquabike Championship held at Lang Park.
Friday 17 October
8 am: Sprint Championships by age group begin from Belmore Basin. The shorter and faster format includes a 750 m swim, 20 km bike ride and 5 km run.
2:15 pm: Junior Men’s Championship starts from Belmore Basin. The race is for male athletes aged 16 to 19 years and includes a 750 m swim, 20 km bike ride and 5 km run. The medal ceremony will be held at 3:25 pm at the finish line.
4:15 pm: Junior Women’s Championship starts from Belmore Basin. This is for female athletes aged 16 to 19, who will also complete a 750 m swim, 20 km bike ride and 5 km run. The medal ceremony will be held at 5:30 pm at the finish line.
6 pm: The Age Group Sprint Championship medal ceremonies will take place at Lang Park.
Saturday 18 October
7:30 am: Para Triathlon Championship starts at Belmore Basin for athletes in PTWC (Para Triathlon Wheelchair) and PTVI (Para Triathlon Visually Impaired) categories. The race includes a 750 m swim, 20 km bike ride and 5 km run, with athletes able to utilise specialised equipment and techniques to adapt the sport to their needs.
10 am: Para Triathlon Championship starts at Belmore Basin for athletes in PTS (ambulant participants) category, which will also include the 750 m swim, 20 km bike ride and 5 km run.
12:15 pm: U23 and Junior Mixed Relay will begin at Belmore Basin. Athletes will each complete a 250 m swim and 2.5 km bike ride, with three of the running legs 1.67 km and the final running leg 1.7 km. The medal ceremonies for this race will be held at 1:40 pm at the finish line.
2 pm: Women’s Pro T100 will start at Belmore Basin. Nineteen of the world’s best female triathletes will complete a 2 km open water swim, 80 km bike ride and 18 km run.
2:30 pm: Para Triathlon Championship medal ceremonies will be held at the finish line.
3:45 pm: Men’s Pro T100 will start at Belmore Basin, where 20 male triathletes, including the leader of the current T100 standings, will complete a 2 km open water swim, 80 km bike ride and 18 km run.
7:15 pm: The T100 medal ceremony will be held at the main stage in Wollongong.
7:30 pm: The Rock N Run event starts at Harbour Street. This is a community fun run consisting of a 2.5 km or 5 km course. Registration is open until 15 minutes before the race.
Sunday 19 October
8 am: Para Triathlon Mixed Relay Championship starts at Belmore Basin. Athletes with different impairments will each collaboratively compete in the course which includes a 300 m swim, 3.8 km bike ride and 900 m run. The medal ceremony for this event will be held at 9:30 am at the finish line.
10:30 am: Mixed Relay Championships by Age Group begins at Belmore Basin. Each team consists of two female athletes and two male athletes who complete a short triathlon leg before tagging their teammate. Athletes will complete a 300 m swim and 5.6 km bike ride, with the first three legs running 1.36 km and the final 1.39 km.
2 pm: Elite Women Championship Final starts at Belmore Basin. Top female athletes will compete for the Wollongong T100 title in an Olympic-distance triathlon format consisting of a 1500 m swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. The medal ceremony for this event will be held at 4:15 pm at the finish line.
5 pm: Elite Men Championship starts at Belmore Basin, with the top male athletes also competing the Olympic-distance format of a 1500 m swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. The medal ceremony will be held at 7 pm at the finish line.
7:30 pm: The Age Group Mixed Relay medal ceremonies will be held at Lang Park.
8 pm: The closing ceremony will mark the end of the event at Lang Park.
WHERE TO WATCH
Each event and corresponding course can vary slightly to cater for length and simultaneous races to optimise the best location for specific events; check the Wollongong Triathlon website for maps.
Here are some spots you may be likely to catch some action over the four days.
Belmore Basin and Lang Park are set to be a hub of activity as the start point of many events, as well as the stage for opening and closing ceremonies and some of the medal events.
If you’re passionate about the swimming component, around Wollongong Harbour is the place to be; most athletes enter and exit the water at Belmore Basin’s Cove Beach.
The triathletes will be running on the loop road leading up to the lighthouse and can also be spotted along Marine Drive.
Cyclists can likely be spotted along Cliff Road, George Hanley Drive and Squires Way, with routes also taking athletes through Corrimal Street.
The finish line is at Marine Drive and Crown Street near the WIN Entertainment Centre.
If you can’t make it in person or would prefer to watch from home, races will be streamed on Triathlonlive.tv, with major races also to be shown on Kayo and Fox Sports.
WHO TO WATCH
There are more than 4000 athletes to watch throughout the championship.
The event will showcase some of the best triathletes in the world, with many competing on home soil, including the largest ever ‘Age Group’ team of 1367 athletes donning green and gold.
While there are plenty to choose from, here are our picks for some of the unmissable talent competing this year (by order of race).
Claire Spicknall: Wollongong local Claire will make her World Championships debut in front of her home town after transferring from surf lifesaving through the AusTriathlon/VIS Talent Transfer Program. Event: Junior Women’s Championship, Friday, 4:15 pm
Lauren Parker: Lauren headlines the largest Australian Para Triathlon Team ever assembled for a home World Championships, as a Paralympic gold and silver medallist, multiple world champion and world no. 1 in the PTWC category. Event: Para Triathlon Championship, 7:30 am, Saturday
Natalie Van Coevorden: Off the back of representing Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Natalie will be competing in the place she used to train at as part of the longest race in the event. Event: Women’s Pro T100, Saturday, 2 pm
Emma Jeffcoat: Emma’s professional triathlon career started more than a decade ago after formerly being a surf lifesaver iron woman, having racked up impressive athletic accolades including being part of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Event: Elite Women Championship, 2 pm, Sunday
Matt Hauser: Matt is the current world no. 1 in the Elite Men World Triathlon Championship Series rankings and has been dominating the podium this year. He has also represented at Paris and Tokyo Olympics. Event: Elite Men Championship, 5 pm, Sunday.
HOW TO GET THERE
Driving:
Carparks surrounding Wollongong Harbour, Endeavour Drive and Marine Drive are closed for the duration of the event and there are also significant road closures which limit vehicle access and on-street parking.
There are no designated parking locations for this event, but there will be limited spaces on the western side of Corrimal Street and the western side of Kembla Street / George Hanley Drive.
Region Illawarra has put together a full guide to road closures with Wollongong Triathlon also providing an interactive map to help residents and visitors navigate changed traffic conditions.
Public Transport:
The closest bus stop to the event precinct at Lang Park is on Corrimal Street after Market Street.
A free event shuttle will run between Wollongong train station and WIN Entertainment Centre, via Burelli, Corrimal, Crown and Harbour streets.
The free Gong Shuttle also operates around Wollongong and runs every 10 to 20 minutes with loops in both directions.
The closest train stations are North Wollongong and Wollongong, with the event about a 20- to 30-minute walk from each station.
The event village at Lang Park is also easily accessible on foot or by bike from the CBD.
For up-to-date information and timetables visit the visit the Transport for NSW website, the Wollongong World Triathlon Championship Finals website or Live Traffic.
