South Africa’s two triathletes in the women’s elite race at the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi suffered mixed fortunes when Shanae Williams completed the course in 36th position, while Bridget Theunissen had to withdraw after suffering a puncture to her bike.
Meanwhile, Mhlengi Gwala produced a fine performance to pick up the bronze medal in the PTS4 race in the Para Cup event. Silver was taken by Spain’s Bartomeu Caldentey, with Russia’s Andrey Tolstikov taking the gold medal.
Gwala had climbed out of the one-lap 750m swim in second place in 11:49, only seven seconds behind Tolstikov. The South African was 97 seconds clear of third-placed Caldentey. However, he lost a minute to the Spaniard at the transition and then a further 93 seconds on the 20km cycle. Despite finishing strongly in the 5km run, which he covered in 18:49, he was unable to catch Caldentey who crossed the line 13 seconds ahead of him.
However, he secured the bronze medal with a final sprint which saw the South African and Spain’s Samuel Rodriguez awarded the same time, and with Gwala catching his rival in the last few metres.
In the boys triathlon event, Nathan Ebersohn finished second in 21min 38sec, in a race won by Austria’s Ben Hoehn (19:49).
It was a German 1-2-3 in the women’s elite race as Lisa Tertsch delivered a magnificent run to take the tape in the first race of the 2025 season, followed over the finish line by team.
Theunissen had completed the 750m swim in 21.6deg C water conditions, which was 15 second ahead of Williams before a puncture ruled her out of the race. Williams herself had to serve a 10-second penalty during the 5km run segment and ultimately completed the race in 58min 50sec, some 4:21 behind the winner.
