Wollongong turned on perfect conditions for the World Triathlon Championship Finals opening ceremony, with the New South Wales south coast city’s picturesque harbour awash with colour, sound and patriotism.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nearly 5,000 athletes from across the globe will compete over the next four days in what organisers say is the biggest annual multi-sport event in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s a bit like the Olympics,” World Triathlon Championship general manager Mark Emerton said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Each country picked a flag bearer, with a sign for the country.”<\/p>\n
Athletes on their way to the opening night procession of the 2025 World Triathlon Championships. (ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)<\/p>\n
Australia will field the largest team, comprising 1,500 competitors aged between 18 and 85, including 13 para triathletes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The US, UK and New Zealand follow close behind, with a Fijian trio the event’s smallest squad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
About 800 local volunteers have also signed on.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got one of the biggest races and richest prizes in the world here in Wollongong this week, which is goddamn exciting,” Mr Emerton said.Back-to-back action\u00a0<\/p>\n
The first round of races begins on Thursday with the under-23 men’s and women’s events, followed by junior men and women’s races on Friday and all para-triathlete events on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hundreds of Australian athletes gave their all in Wollongong during April’s qualifying event. (ABC Illawarra: Brooke Chandler)<\/p>\n
“We have a community-run event that night called the Rock and Run which is a 2-kilometre or 5km lap around the lighthouse,” Mr Emerton said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The professional competitors will take to the course on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They’ll be competing for $500,000 in prize money,” Mr Emerton said. \u00a0<\/p>\n
“They are the ones who will be knocking on the door to represent their country at the next Olympics.”Vying for the podium<\/p>\n
Wollongong will be the fourth world championship final for para-triathlete Anu Francis, a year after she made her Paralympic debut in Paris.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Anu Francis won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. (Supplied: Anu Francis)<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old Adelaide local, who has a genetic connective tissue disorder known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, will compete using a modified bike and crutches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The last couple of months have been the most consistent I’ve ever trained, like the most volume I’ve ever handled,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The body is feeling amazing.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Women’s world number four Jeanne Lehair from Luxembourg said she was keen to take on Wollongong’s difficult course.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Jeanne Lehair is in Australia for the first time. (ABC Illawarra: Brooke Chandler)<\/p>\n
“Usually when it’s flat we are bored,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“So I think it’s good for the race because it’s a bit more challenging.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The only thing is I prefer a lake swim than ocean and I don’t really like beach starts.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Luke Willian says he knows the Wollongong course well after winning the 2024 World Triathlon Cup in the city. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Dean Caton)<\/p>\n
Australia’s number two Luke Willian, 29, said he was excited to compete on home soil, surrounded by family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I remember watching Emma Moffatt win the World Championship in 2009 as a 13-year-old kid and that gave me heaps of motivation \u2026 to do that one day,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I am really fortunate I get to live out that dream.”Why Wollongong?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australia has not hosted the World Triathlon Championship Finals since 2018, when the event was run on the Gold Coast.\u00a0<\/p>\n