800 local volunteers helped make last week’s World Triathlon Championship Finals a huge success.
Almost 5000 athletes from over 72 countries competed in the triathlon, which took over Wollongong from Wednesday 15th to Sunday 19th October.
Australia’s Matthew Hauser won the men’s main race while Germany’s Lisa Tersch was a surprise win after her two main contenders dropped out.
Australia also won a victory in the U23 Women’s with Richelle Hill, daughter of Olympian Rina Hill. The UK’s Oliver Conway won the U23 Men’s while France’s Tristan Douche and Léa Houart won the Juniors races.
However, the World Triathlon Championship Finals were not only a big event for athletes and members of the public attending. Local volunteers enabled the event to run smoothly, handing out water and participation medals, guiding spectators, and working in catering stalls.
Local volunteer Luis Estaban Roman-Knust has been a volunteer at sporting events for over a decade. He said: “I always like the big international events in Wollongong… people get to see the good of having such a multicultural country and it definitely brings people together”
The finals mark Australia’s growing role as a host for major international sporting events, ahead of the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane.
