2022 Canadian Female Draft-Legal Triathlete of the Year

Here at Triathlon Magazine, we were calling this one back in June – by that point of the World Triathlon season, Emy Legault had already claimed three podiums in World Triathlon events, and was the top Canadian in the World Triathlon standings. Things didn’t change through the remainder of 2022 – she would finish 25th in the World Triathlon rankings and sits 20th in the Olympic ranking as she looks to earn a spot at the Paris Olympics next year.

Related: Emy Legault’s three-podium breakthrough

2022 was certainly a breakthrough year for the 26-year-old from L’Île-Perrot, Que. In addition to the three Americas Cup podiums, Legault took a runner-up finish at the World Triathlon Cup Huatulco in June. She was the top Canadian at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (10th) and was also the top Canadian woman at the World Triathlon Championship Finals Abu Dhabi, too.

Legault credits much of her success to reuniting with her old coach, Kyla Rollinson through the pandemic. While her running has improved, possibly the biggest change has been the confidence she’s shown throughout the year. Legault proved that she’s able to get into the lead group alongside some of the sport’s top competitors through the first two legs of the race – the next step will be to maintain that position through the run, too. There’s good reason to anticipate that will happen as she gears up for an Olympic appearance next year.

Related: Duffy dominates again; Legault’s magical season continues

“One of the biggest things—and it’s something I can’t ignore—is that we’ve realized for me being home is happy, and a happy athlete is a fast athlete,” she told us last June.

Based on her success throughout 2022, Legault should be very happy – and is a very deserving winner of our female draft-legal triathlete of the year.

Thanks to Barrie Shepley, Kyla Rollinson, Pierre-Yves Gigou, Lance Watson and Carolyn Murray for their input on our Triathlete of the Year awards.