Drizzling rain and overcast skies set the scene for the 2025 Peoplecare Wollongong Triathlon. Eager race entrants stood at the starting line in April waiting to begin the Standard Triathlon. Who cares if it’s raining? They’re about to get wet anyway. Before them stands a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle and to finish a 10km run.
The triathletes, 679 of them, completed the standard edition of the 2025 triathlon, improving on last year’s 625 participants. University student Jack Dabrowski was one of them.
For a first timer, having been roped in by his friends and family, Dabrowski faced the gruelling challenge head-on.
“Eventually I saw it as an opportunity to challenge myself physically,” he said.
“I can’t say that I follow any triathlons online or any sort of athletics, but it was the opportunity to try something new and while some parts were a shock to the system, I’m excited to try again in the future.
“I’ll be sure to train harder next time”
Dabrowski was one of many first-time triathletes who stood at the the starting line in April.
The increased participation in triathlons has been a major focus for AusTriathlon, the governing body responsible for the development and management of triathlon and multisport in Australia.
The goal of the organisation is “200,000 Australians standing on starting lines by 2032”. This goal lines up with the commencement of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Triathlons is considered as a sport that holds enormous potential in Australia. While, the amount of Australians who participate in organised triathlons may seem low at 68,060, according to the Australian Sports Commission’s AusPlay, the number of potential future participants is much greater.
“A recreational participant is someone who regularly engages in two or more of the core triathlon disciplines—swimming, cycling, or running,” according to the AusPlay website.
The number of recreational multisport participants is staggering, compared to the roughly 70,000 triathletes in Australia.
About 2.8 million Australians participate in these activities recreationally, providing an opportunity for massive growth.
Dabrowski is an example of one of these multisport participants who has seamlessly transitioned to triathlons.
“After my first triathlon, I can see that it is a really unique challenge and I would definitely like to try it again sometime in the future,” he said.
“Despite the really bad weather it was actually quite enjoyable and I finished relatively happy.”
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Source: Ausplay
In Wollongong, one proven method in boosting sport’s participation is hosting world class events.
Since the UCI World Road World Championships in 2022, cycling numbers have soared in the Illawarra. The cycling participation rate (number of people riding a bicycle at least once a year) in Wollongong has increased to 47 per cent, from 72,200 resident riders in 2020 to 101,800 in 2023.
Source: Wollongong City Council
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said major sporting events attracts tourists to the region long after the event has finished.
“Wollongong, having these sorts of major events that play on the global stage, our reputation as a city that can deliver, is one that benefits all of us,” she said.
“Because it brings people back to the region at a later date, so that the flow (in tourism) continues.”
Wollongong will host the World Triathlon Championship finals in October, welcoming the top triathletes from across the globe, who will then battle it out on the city’s coastal streets.
The route includes Wollongong landmarks, like Flagstaff Point Lighthouse and Wollongong Harbour.
All the events follow the same basic course, with differing leg distances.
The men’s and women’s elite course features a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.
Source: Wollongong Triathlon
The triathlon festival will begin on October 15, with the opening ceremony and parade of nations.
The final race will conclude on October 19, with a closing ceremony, that follows the Elite Men’s and Women’s respective championship finals.
Mayor Brown said that the range of events on offer will make it a much more enjoyable and accessible program.
“The benefit with World Triathlon is it is open to everyone, anyone can compete,” she said.
“They have juniors, they have age groups. It’s more family orientated, so you can actually try it out.
“There’s always the opportunity to get in and participate, but to see these world class athletes will hopefully inspire other future champions.”
Whilst the majority of the events will need to have been pre-qualified, a Community Sprint Triathlon will be held and will feature a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.
According to the event’s organisers, Elite Energy, it is a way to involve not only the family and friends of those competing in the World Championships, but also the broader community by turning spectators into competitors.
World Triathlon president and IOC member Marisol Casado said the event was extremely important to the world triathlon community.
“The Championship Finals are the crown jewel in the World Triathlon calendar,” she said.
“We are thrilled to bring the World Triathlon Championship Finals back to Australia in 2025, a destination that has a strong history of hosting triatholon events at the highest level.”
This is the third time that the finals have been held in Australia, with the first two being held on the Gold Coast in 2009 and 2018.
Volunteer opportunities and more information on the community triathlon will be released by WCC and Elite Energy closer to the event.
Photo Credit: Elite Energy