Will the PTS5 category live up to its potential as Paralympic triathlon’s most competitive category?

Thanks to fears of the water conditions in the Seine, on Sunday triathlon fans will be treated to a one-day extravaganza of Para triathlon racing at the Paralympics. Two of the most competitive races on Sunday will be both the men’s and women’s PTS5 categories. If the races are anything like the first two Paralympic editions, we’re in for an exciting day.

Para triathlon made its debut at the Rio Games, and the gold and silver medalists from 2016 in both the men’s and women’s divisions are back for a third go in Paris. In Rio American Grace Norman finished ahead of Great Britain’s Lauren Steadman, and the two reversed positions at the Tokyo Games five years later. They’re both back for another round of racing tomorrow.

On the men’s side, Germany’s Martin Schulz managed to hold off Canadian Stefan Daniel for the win in Rio, then ran his way past Great Britain’s George Peasgood to take gold in Tokyo, with Daniel taking the bronze by just a few seconds over American Chris Hammer, who found himself one spot off the podium for the second straight Paralympics.

All but one of those athletes (Peasgood – he is still recovering from a horrific bike crash sustained in training two years ago) are back for another round of racing in Paris, along with a few more podium contenders, which should make for some exciting racing.

Paralympic triathlon preview: Everything you need to know about Sunday’s races

Steadman, Norman and Cashmore again?

Great Britain’s Claire Cashmore joined Steadman and Norman on the podium in Tokyo and between the three of them they’ve taken all of the last nine world championship races. While those three will be favourites to be on the podium again, there’s some motivated athletes ready to push them in Paris.

“I think the Para sports are evolving and things are getting faster and, to me, that’s a big motivation,” says Canadian Kamylle Frenette (pictured above on her way to the win at the World Triathlon Para Series Montreal), who is hoping to improve on her fourth-place finish in Tokyo from three years ago. “I want to show the world how fast we can be and how it’s very elite sport, and people are really putting in the work. I’m proud that the girls are getting so fast.” 

France’s Gwladys Lemoussu, the bronze medalist from Rio, will certainly enjoy lots of support from the Paris crowd, too, as she looks for another medal on Sunday.

Three-peat for Schulz?

As he goes for the hat-trick of Paralympic titles, the German arrives in Tokyo with a target on his back. While he won’t have to contend with Peasgood in Paris, Daniel would dearly love to complete his set of Paralympic medals by adding gold, while Hammer is more than a little motivated to make it to the podium this time around. Add to that mix Brazil’s Ronan Cordeiro, too.

Schulz is very strong on the bike, which is likely to be the deciding factor for Sunday’s racing. If the German can power clear of the two North Americans for enough of a gap into T2, he’ll look to try and hold off the two speedy runners. (Daniel helped his University of Calgary Dino cross country team take a pair of national cross country titles, while Hammer has been posting some excellent run splits over the last few years, too.)

All of which should make for some outstanding racing on Sunday, and the other bonus is that with 12:20 pm and 12:35 pm local start times for the men and women (6:20 and 6:35 am EST), those willing to get up early on Sunday morning can watch all the action live on cbc.ca.