Season on for Gentle, Bozzone and Kanute

Feb 28, 2018

Three Bahrain Endurance 13 athletes will toe the start line of their first races this season: Terenzo Bozzone at Ironman New Zealand, and Ashleigh Gentle and Ben Kanute at WTS Abu Dhabi.

Bozzone is logging his tenth appearance at what he considers his home race in Taupo. This is the Kiwi’s first race back since the end-of-season racing rampage that saw him claim two golds, including a successful Ironman title defense, and two silvers over four weeks at the end of 2017.

“Since my step up to the full Ironman distance in 2009, I have not missed a race in Taupo,” Bozzone says. “With my younger brother, Dino competing in his first ever Ironman I really wanted to be a part of the action. The build up has been short and with qualifying for Kona somewhat sorted I have kept the pressure off myself for this weekend’s race but looking forward to testing a few different nutrition and race strategies to see where I can make improvements over the full distance.”

Bozzone has placed second three times and third once in his long history with this race. Will this be the year he breaks his bridesmaid curse here?

Gentle and Kanute both hit the race circuit this weekend at WTS Abu Dhabi. Bahrain Endurance 13’s two newest athletes are revving up for their respective season plans.

Gentle, currently ranked at #2 in the World Triathlon Series, is preparing to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games. After her first win this year at home in a local sprint race, she is looking forward to her first big test.

“I am really happy to be racing the first WTS race here in Abu Dhabi and to be representing Bahrain Endurance 13 alongside Ben Kanute,” she says. “It’s my first real test of the year; I wanted to line up with the world’s best before my final preparations into the Commonwealth Games.”

Kanute is juggling both short and middle distances this season, chasing titles in both. After Abu Dhabi, the American is off to race Ironman 70.3 Texas, then will be back to the short stuff at WTS Bermuda. “The team has already had a lot of success early this year, and I am looking forward to seeing where I am at!” says Kanute.

Alistair Brownlee has pulled out of WTS Abu Dhabi, citing a calf pull. “There’s no chance of me not putting everything into a race and doing further damage,” he explains. With the Commonwealth Games on the horizon, he will instead head directly to Noosa, Australia to commence his final preparation for them.

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Lauren Parker Leads Bahrain Victorious 13’s Medal Haul at World Championships

Lauren Parker Leads Bahrain Victorious 13’s Medal Haul at World Championships

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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