Team Announcement: 2026 World Triathlon Championships Pontevedra
Team Ireland heads to the World Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain this week, with representation in the Paratriathlon, Junior and Senior Elite races.
The 2026 World Triathlon Championship Finals officially get underway in Pontevedra on Wednesday 23rd September, with the Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony marking the start of five days of championship racing.
At 18:00 CEST (17:00 Irish time), thousands of athletes from across the world will take to the streets for the traditional Parade of Nations, before the Opening Ceremony begins at 19:00 in Plaza de España.
Throughout the Championship, world titles will be contested across Elite, U23, Junior, Paratriathlon and Age-Group racing, with Pontevedra providing the stage for the culmination of the international triathlon season.
James Corbett Set for World Championship Racing in Pontevedra
James Corbett will race for Ireland for the first time in the Elite Men’s World Triathlon Championship Final on Sunday as Pontevedra prepares for a spectacular week of racing.
James goes into these championships ranked 68th in the World Rankings and 69th in the Olympic Qualification Rankings, and holds a strong position in the race for qualification for LA. The 2026 season has seen him compete strongly in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama and Alghero, alongside World Triathlon Cup racing in Edmonton, Rio de Janeiro and Asuncion.
The Elite Men’s race will bring the Championship Finals to a close, with the start scheduled for 18:00 CEST (17:00 Irish time).
Paratriathlon Action Kicks Off On Friday
Chloe MacCombe with guide Jemma Speers and Judith MacCombe with guide Eimear Nicholls will compete in the 2026 World Triathlon Para Championships in Pontevedra on Friday, 25th September in the Women’s PTVI category.
The World Triathlon Para Championships get underway from 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Friday.
Chloe MacCombe and guide Jemma Speers have only begun to race together in the second half of 2026 but it is a partnership that is already showing great promise as we build towards the LA Games. Consistently in the top six all year, they will be looking to continue to build momentum into the opening of the qualifying period for the LA games.
Judith MacCombe and her guide Eimear Nicholls have enjoyed a consistent 2026 season, just missing the podium at the European Triathlon Para Championships in Tarragona and World Triathlon Para Series Hamburg with two fourth places. They also had an excellent fifth place in Montreal.
Kennedy to compete in Junior Women’s World Championship
Hannah Kennedy lines up for Team Ireland in the Junior Women’s World Championship race on Thursday 24th September.
The Junior Women will start at 10:15 CEST (9:15 Irish time), with Kennedy among a field of 70 athletes on the start list. The Junior Men will follow at 11:45.
Kennedy arrives in Pontevedra following a strong 2026 season, which has included victory at the Europe Triathlon Junior Cup in Tiszaujvaros and a second-place finish at the Irish Sprint Triathlon National Championships. Her 27th place at the European Sprint championships will give her plenty of encouragement that she can mix it with the World’s best.
Most recently, Kennedy gave a gritty performance in a tough field in the home Europe Triathlon Cup – City of Derry, finishing in 8th.
A week of World Championship Action
With the Lérez River providing the swim venue and Pontevedra’s streets hosting the bike and run courses, the stage is set for a spectacular week of racing.
Tri-Team Ireland will also have a major presence in Pontevedra, with more than 115 Irish Age-Group athletes competing across the various World Championship events.
<READ MORE ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL AGE GROUP TEAM IN PONTEVEDRA>
Watch and Follow Along
Full start lists and race information are available through World Triathlon website here including the latest athlete guides, course maps and race briefings.
Events will be broadcast live on TriathlonLive.tv (subscription required) and you can follow the action on the Triathlon Ireland and World Triathlon social channels throughout.
