Triathlon world champs heading to Tauranga
- Dave Worsley
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Tauranga will host the biggest event in the world of triathlon, with Triathlon New Zealand awarded the 2028 World Triathlon Championships.
The city will host the championships as part of a three-year partnership with World Triathlon, which will also see a World Triathlon Cup in Tauranga in 2026, and the World Triathlon Championship Series race in 2027.
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The partnership will culminate with the 2028 World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final. Alongside the grand final, Tauranga will host the Age Group World Championships, Paratriathlon World Championships, and World Triathlon Congress in November 2028.
New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde, who grew up in the Bay of Plenty, is excited the event is coming back to Aotearoa: "Being in the place I train and being very close to my home town."
Wilde, an Olympic bronze and silver medallist, said 2028 would be a huge year for him.
"The LA Olympics and potentially my last Olympics but also probably my last short-course race before I look to go full distance in the ironman so to have the opportunity to race at home. Race in front of friends and family for the grand final in 2028 is super exciting for me and and could be a really cool way to have a bit of a send off in my short-course career," said Wilde.
The comments by Wilde were backed up by Triathlon NZ CEO Pete de Wet.
"After an absence of 16 years, the World Triathlon Championship Series final will be returning to our shores in 2028, and we couldn't be prouder. Triathlon has such a rich heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we are excited to be adding to that history over the next three years," said de Wet.
The events are expected to attract thousands of athletes, supporters, and spectators from around the world over the three-year cycle.
