World Triathlon

The 2024 season has not been an easy one for defending Paralympic champion Susana Rodriguez (ESP) and her guide Sara Perez Sala, but the Spanish doctor managed to find back the racing feeling just when it matters more to claim on an impressive way the Paris 2024 PTVI Para triathlon crown. Silver on the day was a Paralympics debutant, Francesca Tarantello (ITA), while the bronze medal was for Germany’s Anja Renner.

Rodriguez has been the dominant force in the women’s visually impaired races from 2019 to 2023, claiming almost every possible title since then. After finishing 5th on her Paralympic debut in Rio, she became the leader of the new generation. With five world titles, four European titles and a Paralympic gold already under her belt, she was on a mision today to defend her title. But she knew things would not be easy.

Lining up next to her was the current World Champion, Francesca Tarantello, only 22 years old. Bursting on to the scene with in 2022, the Italian has developed the bike and run to match her strong swim and toed the start line full of confidence for a career-defining performance.

Rodriguez looked focused before diving in the Seine river for the 750m swim, knowing that Tarantello -a PTVI B3 class athlete, and therefore starting three and a half minutes after the Spaniard- will be chasing hard. Rodriguez was first out of the water, and chasing her was a second Italian, Anna Barbaro, with Tarantello claiming the fastest swim split of the day, although almost two minutes behind Rodriguez.

But the moment Susana and her guide, Sara Perez Sala, were on their tandem, the gap started to increase lap after lap. Behind them, both Irish sisters, Judith MacCombe and Chloe MacCombe and Germany’s Anja Renner were the only ones capable of following the speedy Spaniard, although both Italians and Annouk Courzillat (FRA) were still fighting for the second to fourth places.

Rodiguez made it to the second transition by herself, and alone they went for the 5km run, a pace that was just too fast for everyone else, to cross the finish line and claim her second Paralympic gold with almost three minutes over the silver medallist.

“You never get tired of winning or being at the start line. This one has been really special, because it’s been really hard since Tokyo 2020. We (her and her guide) had a lot of challenges, physically and mentally. I’m very proud of Sara, because exactly three months ago we had a very big bike crash riding 70 kilometres an hour. We were lucky we didn’t have bad consequences for our bodies. But mentally it’s been hard to ride the tandem again. I feel very proud of her,” explained Rodriguez.

Second on the finish line was Tarantello with her guide Silvia Visaggi. “I’m very satisfied about this result, and excited, too, because it’s my first Paralympic Games. I’m very happy. I want to congratulate (gold medallist) Susana Rodriguez because she’s a fantastic athlete. She’s an example for me and for everyone.”

Winner of the Test Event last summer Anja Renner managed to claim the last spot on the podium with an outstanding run that was enough to keep her ahead of Allison Peasgood (GBR), who finished in the fourth place, while Courzillat (FRA) rounded the top five.