Triathlon World Championships in Wollongong: Franka Rust fights bravely in 14th place!

Triathlon World Championships in Wollongong: Franka Rust fights bravely in 14th place!

The Triathlon Junior World Championships opened today in Wollongong, Australia. The U23 short-distance races celebrated their premiere at these exciting competitions, which will take place from October 16th to 19th, 2025. The athletes had to swim 1.5 kilometers, cycle 40 kilometers and then run 10 kilometers. In the women's race, the victory was clearly in Australian hands: Richelle Hill triumphed with a time of 1:56:58 hours, followed by Angelica Prestia from Italy and Márta Kropkó from Hungary, who came in second and third.

In the men's field, Oliver Conway from Great Britain won the race with a time of 1:42:54 hours. Almost at the same time, the Hungarians Márton Kropkó and Euan De Nigro from Italy were also able to fight their way to second and third positions respectively. The German athletes were not at the forefront in this competitive situation, but they still showed remarkable performances and were able to gain valuable experience. The best German was Franka Rust, who finished in 14th place in a time of 1:59:40 hours. She had a bit of trouble running.

German athletes under pressure

Julia Bröcker and Luca Fahrenson finished their race in 31st place, with Bröcker needing a time of 2:03:37 hours, while Fahrenson finished in 1:49:15 hours and was able to improve, especially in running. An unpleasant experience for Jaspar Ortfeld: he had to give up the race early due to a puncture. Despite these difficulties, the German talents handled the international competitions well and were able to take home important insights.

The siblings Márton and Márta Kropkó, who also caused a stir at the competition, are the children of the Hungarian triathlon pioneer Péter Kropkó. Her successes in the U23 race are not only a personal triumph, but also another sign of the growing importance of triathlon in Hungary.

Outlook for the World Cup finals

Another highlight of this triathlon week are the world championship finals, which start on October 16th at 2:00 p.m. (local time) for women and at 5:00 p.m. for men. A total of a maximum of 65 men and 65 women will compete here, with the course offering both technical challenges and scenic sections. The swimming start takes place at Cove Beach, followed by a challenging cycling and running course through the city, which boasts excellent sight lines for spectators. This event will also be broadcast via TriathlonLive Race Pass for anyone interested in their own living room.

There is great anticipation for these competitions and the athletes are ready to give their best. Because in triathlon there is no room for compromises, and every meter counts!

For further details about the competitions and the athletes, Tri-Mag and Triathlon.org will keep you informed.