Bortoli Narrowly Misses Triathlon Podium in Barbados
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s next generation of triathletes have delivered a series of gritty performances at the 2026 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup in Bridgetown, Barbados. On a day defined by soaring Caribbean temperatures and a technical urban course, the island's contingent proved they can compete with the region's elite, highlighted by a standout top-five finish in the men's field.
Gianluca Bortoli led the Bermudian charge in the Men’s Elite race, coming agonisingly close to a podium spot. Bortoli, who recently secured his qualification for the Carifta Games in Grenada, finished fourth overall with a combined time of 1:00:03. His race was built on a solid foundation in the water, clocking 10:37 for the swim, before maintaining a blistering pace on the bike with a time of 30:29. He closed out the event with a resilient 18:03 run, a performance that marks him as one of the most promising middle-distance prospects in the Atlantic region.
In the same field, Lucas Bule and Sanchez Smith showcased the depth of the Bermudian squad. Bule crossed the line in 15th place with a time of 1:11:38, having navigated a testing swim in 12:35 and a bike leg of 36:47. He showed significant determination on the run, stopping the clock at 21:20. Smith, another Carifta-bound athlete, followed in 17th place with a total time of 1:17:47. Despite a challenging swim of 15:01, Smith recovered well on the bike and produced a strong final run of 20:15 to complete the grueling course.
The Elite Female race saw Madison Schindel carry the island’s hopes against a world-class field. Schindel demonstrated impressive consistency across all three disciplines to finish 13th overall with a time of 1:16:40.
Schindel started the day with a focused 13:54 swim, positioning herself well for the transition to the cycle leg. She maintained her rhythm over the technical Barbados terrain to clock 38:53 on the bike before delivering a strong finish on the pavement. Her closing run time of 23:48 was a testament to her endurance and tactical management in the midday heat.
For Bortoli and Smith, the experience in Bridgetown serves as a vital stepping stone toward the 2026 Carifta Games in April. The high-intensity environment of the Development Regional Cup provided the perfect dress rehearsal for the tactical demands they will face in Grenada.
The results in Barbados reinforce the continued growth of the Bermuda Triathlon Association’s development programme. With the island’s athletes consistently breaking into the top twenty of regional Elite fields, the focus now turns to the final weeks of preparation before the squad departs for the Caribbean championships later this spring.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Bermuda’s Rising Stars Target Podium in Barbados
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s next generation of triathletes are set to test their mettle on the international stage this weekend as four youth prospects head to the 2026 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The event, scheduled for Sunday, February 15th, serves as an event towards Youth Olympics Points, it is a vital stepping stone for regional talent aiming for the elite ranks, providing a high-pressure environment against the finest young athletes from across the Caribbean and Americas.
In the Elite Female field, Madison Schindel carries the island's hopes. Sporting the number 12, Schindel enters the race following a period of intensive training geared toward the draft-legal format that defines this developmental circuit.
For Schindel, the Bridgetown course—notorious for its technical bike legs and humid conditions—will provide a stern examination of both her endurance and tactical awareness.
The Men’s Elite field features a strong Bermuda contingent, with three athletes vying for a spot on the podium.
Gianluca Bortoli (number 35) brings significant experience to the squad, having previously secured a third-place overall finish at the Cambridge Beaches Bermuda Triathlon. He is joined by Sanchez Smith (number 41), a versatile competitor who recently made waves with a fourth-place finish at the Clermont Draft Legal Challenge in Florida.
Completing the trio is Lucas Bule (number 47), who will be looking to capitalize on the lessons learned during a challenging international season in 2025.
The Development Regional Cup is more than just a single race; it is part of a broader strategy by World Triathlon to identify and nurture talent in emerging nations.
For the Bermudian quartet, success in Barbados would not only yield vital ranking points but also reinforce the island’s reputation as a nursery for world-class triathlon talent—a legacy bolstered by the likes of Dame Flora Duffy.
Monday, February 02, 2026
IOC Approves Olympic Qualification Criteria for LA28 Olympics
IslandStats.com
World Triathlon announced that the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the Qualification System for the LA28 Olympic Games. This system builds upon the successful framework of previous cycles while incorporating significant updates designed to broaden global representation.
World Triathlon will contest three (3) medal events at the LA28 Olympic Games: Men’s Individual, Women’s Individual, and the Mixed Relay. As in previous editions of the Games, the total quota will be 110 athletes (55 men and 55 women).
The qualification window opens on May 18th, 2026 and concludes on May 18th, 2028.
World Triathlon President Antonio Arimany has highlighted the impact of these changes for the LA28 cycle, noting the expanded opportunities for developing nations: "There isn't anything in world sport quite as powerful as the Olympic Games, and we are proud that have taken our commitment with both the Olympics but also the development and growth of our sport one step further. We have successfully advocated for a historic expansion of the "New Flag" rule and, for the first time in our Olympic history, there will be two dedicated qualification spots per continent for nations not otherwise qualified. This is not a minor adjustment; it is a structural change designed to open the door wider for athletes from developing Triathlon nations to step onto the blue carpet in Los Angeles. This ensures that the Olympic dream is a realistic, tangible target for more of your athletes than ever before."
For the LA28 Olympic Games eligibility can be attained through a variety of pathways earning one of the 55 spots available for each gender. As in the previous edition of the Olympic Games, there will be Mixed Relay events counting towards the qualification.
Mixed Relay Qualification
The Host Country (USA) is guaranteed two men and two women (one Mixed Relay team), provided they have eligible athletes.
Mixed Relay Championships: The winners of the 2026 and 2027 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships will each secure 2 men and 2 women quota places for their NOCs.
Mixed Relay Rankings: 16 men and 16 women spots will be allocated via the World Triathlon Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Ranking. The highest-ranked NOC from each of the five continents (from continents without NOCs already qualified and within the top 15) will receive 2-2 quotas, with the remaining spots filling the quota based on rank.
Through these Host and Mixed Relay pathways, 22 of the 55 places per gender will be secured.
Individual Qualification & New Opportunities
Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking: 21 places will be available through the Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking as of May 18th, 2028. For NOCs that have already secured 2-2 places via Mixed Relay or Host pathways, their top 2 ranked athletes in both genders will not be considered for these individual spots.
Expanded "New Flag" Opportunities: For the first time ever, the "New Flag" pathway has been expanded to include two dedicated spots per continent (one via Continental Games, one via World Triathlon Ranking). This major update ensures that up to 10 athletes (2 men and 2 women per continent) from countries not otherwise qualified will have a guaranteed pathway to the Games, significantly increasing opportunities for emerging nations.
Universality Places: A maximum of 2 invitations (2 men, 2 women) will be awarded by the Tripartite Commission to eligible under-represented NOCs.
Eligibility and NOC Limits
Athletes must be born on or before December 31st, 2010, represent the same National Federation throughout the qualification period, and be ranked within the top 160 of the World Triathlon Ranking by May 18th, 2028.
NOCs with at least 3 athletes in the top 30 may qualify up to 3 athletes per gender; all others are limited to 2.
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Olympian Hawley Reflects on 2025
IslandStats.com
Bermuda Olympian Erica Hawley reflected on a transformative 2025 season, describing it as a year of "trying new things" and prioritizing personal autonomy before the intensity of the next Olympic cycle begins.
After an eight-month break following the Paris Olympics, Hawley reignited her campaign in February at the World Triathlon Cup in Napier, New Zealand, where she secured an encouraging ninth-place finish.
Throughout the summer, she found a "flow state" during a successful stint in Canada, earning back-to-back podium finishes with a runner-up spot in Magog followed by third place in Montreal. These performances bolstered her world ranking and provided a vital confidence boost as she navigated a season that balanced elite short-course competition with new challenges.
A significant milestone in Hawley’s season came in October, when she competed in her first Elite World Championship Final in Wollongong, Australia. Navigating a challenging course at Cove Beach, she delivered a consistent performance across all three disciplines—swimming 1.5km in 20:11, cycling 40km in 1:02:35, and closing with a sub-38 minute 10km run—to finish 28th in the world.
Hawley noted that the experience of racing at the highest level of the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) was invaluable, exposing areas for growth and providing a clear direction for her technical focus heading into the next year.
Hawley concluded her 2025 campaign by stepping into the world of long-course racing with an impressive debut at the Ironman 70.3 La Quinta in California. Despite facing "rookie mistakes," such as minor technical issues with her hydration system and adjusting to a new time-trial bike, she secured an 8th-place finish in the professional women’s division with a total time of 4:17:32.
Currently spending the holidays in Bermuda before returning to her training base in Boulder, Colorado, Hawley is already looking ahead to 2026. With Olympic qualification set to begin in May, she intends to integrate more 70.3 distances into her schedule while maintaining a primary focus on her journey toward the next Olympic Games.
Sunday, December 07, 2025
Hawley Impresses in Ironman 70.3 La Quinta Debut
IslandStats.com
American Kirsten Kasper made a stunning transition from short-course racing to win the IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta in her very first attempt at the distance, while Bermuda Olympian Erica Hawley delivered an impressive top-ten finish in her 70.3 debut.
With zero prior experience on a time-trial bike and no appearances over the 70.3 distance, Kirsten Kasper stunned the elite field by winning IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta on her first outing. The American, making the leap from short-course racing, was a commanding presence from the opening meters of the race and sealed the victory decisively during the run leg.
The women’s race may have been impacted before the start, with ProTriNews reporting that an overnight incident saw a golf cart roll into the transition area, resulting in damage to some of the professional bikes, including those belonging to Jackie Hering (USA) and Steph Clutterbuck (GBR).
Bermuda Olympian Erica Hawley, also competing in her first 70.3 Ironman, delivered an excellent performance to secure a top-ten placement in the Women's Elite race.
Hawley finished with an overall time of 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 32 seconds. This time placed her 8th in the Women's Elite race out of 26 competitors. Her performance also saw her finish as the 8th female finisher out of 576 female competitors overall, and the 64th person to cross the line out of 2,269 total participants.
Her split times were:
Swim (1.2 Miles): 26 minutes and 2 seconds. Bike (56.3 Miles): 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 26 seconds. Run (13 Miles): 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 59 seconds.
Hawley's debut at the 70.3 distance marks a successful step into long-course triathlon, securing a result among the world's best athletes.
