Colombian Wins Silver at Triathlon World Cup in Australia

Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto, a triathlete from Antioquia, Colombia, has made history by securing the silver medal at the thrilling Triathlon World Cup held in Wollongong, Australia. This remarkable achievement makes Velasquez Soto the first Antioquean triathlete to ever reach such a milestone in a competition of this caliber, further establishing her position in the world rankings.

In a closely contested race featuring 32 elite athletes, the top five competitors crossed the finish line within a mere four seconds of each other. The winner clocked a time of 1:00.39, closely followed by Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto with a time of 1:00.40, sharing the same time with Thorpe and Raquel Klamer of Zimbabwe.

Born in Marinilla and currently representing the Caldas Triathlon League, Velasquez Soto has set her sights on securing a spot at the Paris Olympics. Her outstanding performance in Australia serves as a significant and promising step towards achieving her Olympic aspirations.

What is the Wollongong Triathlon World Cup?

The Wollongong Triathlon World Cup is one of the main Triathlon races in the world. The race takes place in Wollongong, Australia. This location borders the Pacific Ocean and treats athletes to remarkable views while they undertake this physical challenge. 

The course itself offers a variety of terrains. It combines coastal roads for cycling and a lighthouse course for the running section. It also includes one swim lap of 750 meters. The total laps work in the following way: there is a five-lap bike ride and two running laps, with the total distance covered by the course being 1350 km. 

This brutal course has a prize of US$60,000 split between the top 15 participants in the race. Triathlon, like running, has risen in popularity in Western countries. Every day more people in Colombia join running clubs and increase their overall fitness by engaging in this sort of activity.