Phuket: New Zealand's Hayden Wilde, the silver medallist in the Paris Olympics, celebrated an impressive victory at the 30th Laguna Phuket Triathlon on Sunday.
In the women's division, the United Kingdom's Kate Waugh successfully defended her championship title, while Thanadon Wisarutsin triumphed as the Thai national champion for the second consecutive year.
Over 1,000 athletes from more than 30 countries converged at Laguna Phuket, showcasing the event's stature as a premier global sports competition.
The race kicked off at 6.30am on Bang Tao Beach, with competitors navigating a demanding three-stage course: a 1.8-kilometre swim in the Andaman Sea and a lagoon, a 50-kilometre bike ride through hilly and scenic terrain, and a 12-kilometre run within the grounds of Laguna Phuket. The competition concluded at Laguna Grove around 12.30 in the afternoon, producing thrilling performances across the board.
In the men's division, Wilde triumphed in his Laguna Phuket Triathlon debut with a finishing time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 3 seconds. He was followed by fellow New Zealander Tayler Reid, who clocked in at 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 13 seconds, and Rostyslav Pevtsov of Ukraine, who secured third place with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 3 seconds.
The women's division saw reigning champion Kate Waugh retain her title with a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 39 seconds. Alanis Siffest of Switzerland took second place, finishing in 2 hours, 39 minutes, and 54 seconds, while Sian Rainsley of the United Kingdom completed the podium with a time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 41 seconds.
In the Thai national category, 19-year-old Thanadon finished in 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 56 seconds.