Katie Kelly said donning the green and gold was one of the proudest experiences of her life. Photo: World Triathlon Championships.
Legendary triathletes Craig Alexander, Emma Moffatt and Katie Kelly have been named official ambassadors for the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Wollongong this October.
The trio of superstars have joined the World Triathlon Championship Finals team to inspire the next generation and support the thousands of domestic and international competitors making their way to Wollongong.
Emma Moffat is an Olympic medallist and two-time World Triathlon Champion, while Katie Kelly is a Paralympic Gold Medallist and also a two-time World Champion. Craig is a three-time Ironman World Champion.
On top of their official accolades, Alexander, Moffatt and Kelly are all people’s champions, who bring extensive knowledge, experience and a genuine connection to the triathlon community and an international audience.
A key part of their role is to showcase the Illawarra to the world.
Australia hasn’t had a home world championship for nearly a decade and Craig believes it will be a huge shot in the arm for the sport.
He has competed and training in the Illawarra for a number of years and said it’s the perfect location for a world championship.
“It has a strong triathlon history with a lot of great races being held over the years around the foreshore and the harbour, so, there is a lot of history,” he said.
“I am looking forward to watching the racing in Wollongong and doing anything I can to inspire a few Aussie performances.
“Wollongong has a big tradition of putting on events, and I know the local community will get behind it and be fired up.
“If we can get a couple Aussies racing well at a home world title, I think that would be a huge inspiration for the next generation coming through.”
Emma delivered a defining moment in her career when she claimed the World Championship title on home soil at the 2009 Grand Final on the Gold Coast.
She’s honoured to be an Ambassador for the World Triathlon Championship Finals, helping deliver a world class event in Wollongong.
Katie’s path to triathlon legend status included two world championship titles and like her fellow ambassadors she is keen to see the event be a springboard for continued diversity and inclusion.
“When you put on the green and gold and you have the Australian coat of arms on the uniform, it is incredible,” she said.
“Representing your country is an amazing opportunity but it is also about being able to give back to the sport, to give back to your community and those who have created this opportunity for you.”
All three Ambassadors are keen to see all the local businesses, community groups and residents and embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The impact of the World Championship Finals on the local community will be awesome,” Craig said.
“You’re going to get several thousand athletes in their families coming in and the television footage is going to be beamed all around the world to a global audience.
“There will be many young kids in Wollongong coming down to watch the race, to watch some of the best triathletes in the world and be inspired.
“We talk about the economic impact for a community or a town which is vital, but I always think about the positive impact, the inspiration and the legacy an event leaves long after it’s gone.”
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown welcomed the announcement of Craig, Emma and Katie as Wollongong’s 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals ambassadors.
She said the buzz for the event was steadily building.
“These three sportspeople have proven themselves not only as elite athletes but as keen advocates for the sport,” she said.
“As the event draws nearer, there is a buzz starting to be felt around Wollongong as we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best triathletes, their teams and their supporters to the city.
“We’re super pumped for what is coming our way in October.”
