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The Paris 2024 Paralympic Triathlon course will see the world’s best para triathletes compete for glory in a sprint triathlon that commences in the River Seine this Sunday 1st September. Just like the Olympics a few weeks ago, the River Seine and potential effects of upcoming weather conditions is playing havoc with the racing plans and, after monitoring conditions, World Triathlon, Paris 2024 and French authorities revised the schedule to incorporate all para-triathlon events to take place on Sunday, instead of the original two-day schedule.

Athletes will swim 750m in the Seine before making their way around the French capital, the 20k fast cobbled bike course will barely provide the time for checking out the sights whilst the streets will be thronged with spectators cheering on the athletes as they make their way around the course, with the final leg of the race the 5k run expected to be thrilling and exhilarating for athletes as chase the top of the podium and those medals.

There will be a total of eleven medal races taking place on Sunday with Ireland represented in two of the categories in Paris. In the Women’s PTVI category, a visually impaired category, Ireland will be represented by twin sisters, Chloe MacCombe, and her guide Catherine Sands alongside Judith MacCombe, and her guide Eimear Nicholls. The MacCombe’s have both achieved a number of podium results and top 5’s at World Para Cup and World Para Series events throughout the season and will be hoping to continue this form on Sunday.

The Tandem Twins as they are known will make their Paralympic debut in Paris this weekend at 11:05am Irish time. Judith and Chloe were guests of the Tri Talking Sport podcast in January 2023, you can check out the episode (#98) on all podcast platforms or on the link HERE.

In the Women’s PTS4, Ireland’s Cassie Cava will also make her Paralympic debut. At 11:40am, Irish time. The Women’s PTS3 and PTS4 categories are combined at the Paralympic Games providing a larger field of competitors. While it is normally the top nine ranked athletes in each category who secure a slot for their country, the Women’s PTS4 category includes the top nine ranked PTS4 athletes and the top five PTS3 athletes.

Cava previously competed for GBR until 2017, switching to Ireland in 2018 when she won the PTS4 category of WPS Edmonton. Cassie went on to win bronze for Ireland at the 2018 and 2019 World Triathlon Grand Finals. Her record currently consists of 16 international starts, with 15 podiums and 9 wins. However, the Paralympic Games presents a greater challenge due to the merging of PTS3 and PTS4 categories.

The revised race schedule for Sunday is below and are local French times in Paris.

08:15:00 Start PTWC1 Men (PTWC2 wave +3mins)

08:20:00 Start PTWC1 Women (PTWC2 wave +3m38s)

09:25:00 Start PTS3 Men

09:30:00 Start PTS2 Men

09:35:00 Start PTS2 Women

12:00:00 Start PTVI1 Men (PTVI 2/3 +2m41s)

12:05:00 Start PTVI1 Women (PTVI 2/3 +3m11)

12:20:00 Start PTS5 Men

12:25:00 Start PTS4 Men

12:35:00 Start PTS5 Women

12:40:00 Start PTS4 Women

Best of luck to Team Ireland on Sunday!!