He was just 19 when he took the silver medal at the Paralympics in Rio. Five years later he bounced back from injury and a tough day in the heat and humidity in Tokyo to hang on for bronze. Canadian Stefan Daniel (pictured above racing at the World Paratriathlon Cup Montreal in June) appeared to be on track to finally win the gold medal he’s seemed destined to take in Paris, but a crash on the bike as he worked his way around the last hairpin turn of the 20 km course sidelined that dream.
Six weeks after that challenging day Daniel bounced back in style, taking his sixth world title in dramatic style at the World Triathlon Para Championships in Torremolinos, Spain, with a dominating performance that saw him once again push the pace on the bike before putting his excellent run talent to work.
“Today I just felt a sense of relief when I crossed the finish line. This will make the off-season so much sweeter,” Daniel said after the race. “It was redemption.”
Daniel took the win in the PTS5 category in 59:26, with Australia’s Jack Howell (1:00:14) taking silver and and Portugal’s Filipe Marques 1:00:43 winning the bronze medal. Paralympic gold medalist, American Chris Hammer, finished fourth (1:01:22).
“I think in years past I’d always get complacent and wait for the run to try to take the lead,” Daniel said of today’s win. “Para triathlon has just got to competitive over the last couple of years, and I can’t do that anymore. I had to shift how I was racing. I wanted to ride aggressively, take risks and put my nose out there a bit.”
“I was able to show my fitness today,” he continued. “I swam close to the front – just 20 seconds down – and road hard for the first couple of laps where I was able to get the lead and maintain it. On the run, I gave it all I had. The body isn’t 100 per cent after a long summer block. I just gritted my teeth, dug deep and got the best out of it.”
In an exciting women’s PTS5 race it was American Grace Norman who took the win, adding to her Paralympic gold in Paris ahead of fellow Paris medalists, Great Britain’s Claire Cashmore and Lauren Steadman.
Gretsch tops Parker
In another redemption race American Kendall Gretsch, the Tokyo PTWC gold medalist, topped Paris Paralympic gold medalist Lauren Parker (AUS), who would end up taking the bronze medal behind Brazil’s Jessica Ferreira. Paralympic bronze medalist Leanne Taylor finished fourth. The Netherlands’ Jetze Plat took the men’s PTWC division.
Spain’s Susana Rodriguez continued her dominance in the PTVI category, adding the world title to the Paralympic and European gold medals she earned earlier this year. Great Brtain’s Dave Ellis managed the same feat in taking the men’s PTVI title.
France’s Alexis Hanquinquant took a seventh title to go along with his Paralympic gold in PTS4, with Marta Frances Gomez providing a home-country win in the women’s race after European and Paralympic champ Megan Richter pulled out of the race.
Elise Marc (FRA) took her third straight PTS3 world championship, while Great Britain’s Henry Urand had an upset win in the men’s category, beating Paralympic gold medalist Daniel Molina (ESP), with Germany’s Max Gelhaar, the silver medalist in Paris, rounding out the podium.
Belgium’s Wim De Paepe won the PTS2 race (the Belgian was leading the race when Paralympic gold medalist Jules Ribstein pulled out due to medical reasons). In the women’s race it was Paralympic bronze medalist Alyssa Seely (USA) who took the gold.
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