In 2016, U.S. triathletes made history. Earning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in triathlon and sweeping the podium in the sport’s Paralympic Games debut are just two milestones of many. Take a look at our top moments of the year based on stories published on usatriathlon.org.
Jan. 16 — Hall of Fame Celebration Honors 4 Newest Inductees
USA Triathlon honored four accomplished multisport athletes at the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Rudy Project. Former ITU star and world-ranked No. 1 Siri Lindley, IRONMAN champion Ken Glah, and national and world champion age-groupers Harriet Anderson and Roger Brockenbrough were joined by nearly 250 friends, family members and fans of triathlon at the annual event.
April 22 — Knibb, Baugher Win Inaugural USA Triathlon High School National Championships
Taylor Knibb of MC Elite and Jake Baugher of Carolina Varsity Tri Club were victorious at the first USA Triathlon High School National Championships. An at-capacity field of 125 high school athletes showcased the country’s top multisport talent among rising triathletes ages 13-18.
May 14 — U.S. Men Qualify for Rio
USA Triathlon National Team members Joe Maloy, Greg Billington and Ben Kanute all met the qualification standards to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, based on their points in the USA Triathlon Objective Rankings System after ITU World Triathlon Yokohama.
May 18 — USA Triathlon Foundation Announces Grant Awards Totaling Nearly $102,000
The USA Triathlon Foundation today announced nearly $102,000 in grant funding to be shared among 31 organizations to bolster opportunities for youth, paratriathletes and Olympic hopefuls in the 2016 season and beyond.
May 24 — Katie Zaferes Named to 2016 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team Roster
USA Triathlon today named Katie Zaferes as the sixth and final member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team, which will compete at Copacabana Beach as part of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
June 12 — Jorgensen Runs to World Triathlon Leeds Title After Trailing by 90 Seconds
2016 U.S. Olympic qualifier Gwen Jorgensen ran her way on to the top of the podium at World Triathlon Leeds, making up a deficit of more than 90 seconds to claim her second ITU World Triathlon Series win of 2016.
June 30 — Eight Athletes Named to First-Ever U.S. Paralympic Triathlon Team
The eight initial members of the U.S. Paralympic Triathlon Team are Krige Schabort (PT1), Hailey Danisewicz (PT2), Allysa Seely (PT2,), Mark Barr (PT2), Grace Norman (PT4), Chris Hammer (PT4), Patricia Walsh (PT5) and Elizabeth Baker (PT5).
July 8 — Two World Champion Paratriathletes, Army Veterans Earn Invitations to U.S. Paralympic Triathlon Team
The ITU Bipartite Selection Panel has awarded invitations to world champions and U.S. Army veterans Melissa Stockwell (PT2) and Patricia Collins (PT4), and both athletes will join eight other Americans to compete in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 11 as part of the U.S. Paralympic Triathlon Team.
July 16 — Zaferes Claims First World Triathlon Series Title in Final Rio Tuneup
With five weeks to go before the women’s triathlon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team member Katie Zaferes topped the World Triathlon Series podium for the first time in her career, with Olympic teammate Gwen Jorgensen finishing third.
July 17 — Americans Capture First Triathlon Mixed Relay World Title
The relay team of Gwen Jorgensen, Ben Kanute, Kirsten Kasper and Joe Maloy earned the United States its first gold medal in the ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships.
July 24 — Americans Win Four Titles, Seven Medals at Paratriathlon Worlds
World champions Kendall Gretsch, Allysa Seely, Grace Norman and Aaron Scheidies led the U.S. to seven total medals at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships.
Aug. 18 — Joe Maloy Leads U.S. Effort with 23rd Place at Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain became the first man to defend his Olympic triathlon title with a victory at Copacabana Beach, while Joe Maloy ran his way to 23rd place as the top American finisher at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games triathlon. Ben Kanute finished 29th and Greg Billington was 37th.
Aug. 20 — Gwen Jorgensen Wins First U.S. Olympic Gold Medal in Triathlon
Gwen Jorgensen of the United States surged away from defending Olympic champion Nicola Spirig of Switzerland to win the first Olympic gold medal in triathlon for the United States. Vicky Holland of Great Britain sprinted past teammate Non Stanford for the bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. American Katie Zaferes finished 18th in her first Olympic Games while Sarah True suffered a quadriceps injury on the swim and was eventually lapped out of the race on the bike in her second Olympic Games.
Sept. 4 — Summer Cook Wins First WTS Race to Lead U.S. Podium Sweep in Edmonton
Summer Cook picked up her first career ITU World Triathlon Series victory, winning the gold medal on the way to an American sweep at Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park. Olympians Sarah True and Katie Zaferes finished second and third, respectively.
Sept. 10 — Men's Triathlon Makes its Paralympic Games Debut
Mark Barr and Chris Hammer each logged fourth-place finishes as triathlon made its Paralympic Games debut at Copacabana Beach, while Krige Schabort finished fifth.
Sept. 11 — Norman Nabs PT4 Gold, Seely Leads U.S. PT2 Sweep as Women's Triathlon Debuts in Paralympics
The U.S. Paralympic Women's Triathlon Team kicked off triathlon's Paralympic Games debut with gold, silver and bronze as Grace Norman claimed the first-ever gold medal in the women's PT4 sport class and Allysa Seely led Hailey Danisewicz and Melissa Stockwell in a PT2 sweep at Copacabana Beach.
Sept. 15 — Amateur U.S. Triathletes Race to 8 Sprint Triathlon World Titles, 19 Medals
More than 250 age-group triathletes represented the U.S. at the ITU Sprint Triathlon World Championships, bringing home eight world titles and 19 total medals.
Sept. 16 — Hindman, Knibb Capture Rare Double Gold at Junior Worlds
U.S. junior triathletes Austin Hindman and Taylor Knibb won their first-ever world titles. The U.S. is the first nation to earn gold in both the men’s and women’s ITU Junior World Championships in the same year in more than two decades.
Sept. 18 — USA Triathlon’s Amateur Team USA Grabs 9 Titles, 30 Medals in Standard Triathlon Worlds
American age-group athletes had a phenomenal final day of competition in Cozumel, winning nine world titles and 30 total medals at the ITU Standard Triathlon World Championships.
Oct. 9 — Heather Jackson, Ben Hoffman Finish in Top 5 at IRONMAN World Championship
Americans Heather Jackson and Ben Hoffman finished third and fourth at the 2016 IRONMAN World Championship, and three U.S. age-groupers won world titles in their respective divisions.