Cunnama conquers the mountain

Aug 16, 2016

James Cunnama took the title at the Embrunman long-distance triathlon on Monday, showing his mastery of the hilly French races following a runner-up finish at Ironman Nice and the win at the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon.

He said, “It was important for me to win Embrun, the toughest in the world before the end of my career. I did not know who was in the lead, so I gave everything on the bike course to join the race lead and tackle the marathon.”

The South African stayed within striking distance of the lead out of the water and on the bike leg. With only two minutes separating him and race leader Etienne Diemunsch off the bike, Cunnama took the lead at 10 kilometers into the marathon and outran the rest of the men’s field. After placing second once and third three times in previous attempts, he finally secured his first victory on this notoriously tough course in 9 hours, 35 minutes, 45 seconds.

Fredrik Croneborg made his second appearance at the race and finished 7th. The Swede said, “I had hoped for just a few places better but still had a great trip and experience and I’m just proud to have finished Embrunman two times now. Happy for my Bahrain Endurance 13 team mate James Cunnama who took the win after several podiums the years before. I predict a good race in Kona for him, watch out! And Embrunman, I will be back.”

Jodie Swallow took the silver at Ironman 70.3 Wiesbaden, a race she had picked just to get out of a training weekend. After a classic blistering swim that put her in the lead on the bike, the Ironman Cairns champion hopped off the bike in third place behind eventual champion Melissa Hauschildt. Swallow showed her run legs, chasing down Anja Beranek for a runner-up finish. The Brit said, “I’m really happy with my second place, and I do think Melissa is totally underrated. I have been here in 2012, and it’s good to be back here in Europe.”

Croneborg now flies back home to Thailand to take on the short-distance Tri-League race in Cha-Am this weekend, while Swallow and Cunnama continue their preparations for the Ironman World Championship.

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Oct 20, 2025

The Bahrain Victorious 13 captured an impressive medal haul at the World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia this weekend.

Lauren Parker led the campaign, winning two medals including her fifth paratriathlon world title.

The paratriathlon races opened the elite competition on Saturday, where Parker once again proved untouchable. She led from the front, exiting the 750-metre swim first, hammering the 20-kilometre handbike leg with the day’s fastest split, and then powering through the 5-kilometre wheelchair run to cross the line 70 seconds clear of her nearest rival.

Unbeaten all year, Parker’s home victory carried extra meaning as she reclaimed the crown she relinquished last season.

“Everyone was so supportive out there and it definitely made me push a little bit harder,” Parker said post-race. “I wanted to get back on top again and I really worked hard for this one and I’m just happy to get it done.”

She also revealed her next sporting ambition: to qualify for the Winter Paralympic Games, with ongoing training in cross-country skiing and biathlon.

On Sunday, Parker added to her tally with a silver medal in the Para Mixed Relay World Championships, helping the Australian team to a podium finish.

In the men’s elite race, Vasco Vilaça placed fifth to secure the overall World Triathlon Championship Series bronze medal, returning to the world podium for the first time since earning silver at the one-day championship in Hamburg in 2020.

Emma Lombardi also delivered a standout performance, claiming bronze in the women’s race – her best finish of the season – and vaulting seven places to 11th overall in the Series standings. She swam into the pointy end on the 1.5-kilometre swim alongside compatriot Cassandre Beaugrand, then attacked on the 40-kilometre bike to lead onto the 10-kilometre run where she battled against the eventual winner and series champion Lisa Tertsch and a hard-charging Bianca Seregni to hold onto the final spot on the podium.

Beaugrand, who had stayed in the lead pack throughout the swim and bike, was forced to withdraw on the run to conclude her season ranked seventh overall.

The results in Wollongong wrap up the Bahrain Victorious 13’s short course season. The team now turns its attention to middle distance racing with the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain and Ironman 70.3 Bahrain on the horizon, as well as the T100 Tour’s final two stops in Dubai and Qatar.

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Kat Matthews Runs to Silver and a Record Finish in Kona

Oct 13, 2025

Kat Matthews led the charge for the Bahrain Victorious 13 on Saturday, taking her third IRONMAN World Championship silver medal at the historic final all-women’s race in Kona, Hawaii. The British star also set a new run course record on the way to her first-ever...

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