USA Triathlon, PATCO and Race Day Events today announced that the 2021 Americas Triathlon Para Championships have been scheduled for Sunday, June 27, in conjunction with the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon in Wisconsin. The elite international race serves as a World Triathlon Paralympic Games country qualifier. Athletes from North, South and Central America will have the chance to earn qualification points for their country for this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo — and for the U.S. athletes, the race will also serve as Selection Event #2 for the U.S. Paralympic Team. The Tokyo Paralympic Games are scheduled for Aug. 24-Sept. 5.
The 2021 Americas Triathlon Para Championships were initially scheduled for March 15 in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, but the PATCO (Americas Triathlon) Championship designation was ultimately removed as international travel restrictions and quarantine requirements prevented some PATCO nations from traveling to the race. Instead, the event in Sarasota was held as a USA Paratriathlon Invitational Race, which held no direct Paralympic rankings or points implications, but served as a discretionary selection event toward Games qualification for those U.S. athletes who were able and willing to attend.
The 2021 Americas Triathlon Para Championships in Pleasant Prairie will serve as Selection Event #2 for the U.S. Paralympic Team for Tokyo (Selection Event #1 was the 2019 World Paratriathlon Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland). Strong performances in Pleasant Prairie will be taken into account by USA Triathlon’s Games Selection Committee. Other factors such as performances at 2019, 2020, and 2021 World Triathlon and USA Triathlon-sanctioned events, ranking on the World Triathlon Paralympic Qualification list, head-to-head performances, and relevant and verified training data, will also be considered for Games selection. The full U.S. Paralympic Team for Tokyo will be named in July.
The Pleasant Prairie Triathlon, hosted by Race Day Events, is renowned for hosting national level paratriathlon competition. The race has welcomed paratriathletes from beginners to elites since its inception, and it served as the host of the 2017 and 2018 USA Paratriathlon National Championships.
“Race Day Events is proud to host this key international competition on the road to the Tokyo Paralympic Games,” said Ryan Griessmeyer, Owner and Race Director at Race Day Events. “We look forward to showcasing the world’s top paratriathlon talent right here in Pleasant Prairie, and we believe our community of spectators, age-group athletes and up-and-coming adaptive athletes will provide unmatched energy and support for these elite competitors.”
“USA Triathlon is thrilled to bring the 2021 Americas Triathlon Para Championships to a scenic and world-class venue in Pleasant Prairie,” said Amanda Duke Boulet, Paralympic Program Director at USA Triathlon. “We are grateful to Race Day Events for their collaboration as we prepare to safely and responsibly host athletes from across the U.S., as well as the rest of North America, and Central and South America. This event will be a welcome opportunity for our elite paratriathletes to demonstrate their fitness and work toward qualification for this summer’s Tokyo Paralympic Games.”
Held at Prairie Springs Park, the sprint-distance event will feature a 750-meter swim in Lake Andrea, a 20-kilometer bike through Pleasant Prairie and neighboring Kenosha, and a 5-kilometer run course finishing in the park.
In addition to the paratriathlon race, the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon will include age-group sprint-distance (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) and Olympic-distance (1,500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) triathlons and a sprint-distance duathlon (2.3-mile run, 20k bike, 5k run). For more information and to register as an age-group athlete, visit pleasantprairietri.com.
All races will be held with stringent COVID-19 safety measures in place in accordance with USA Triathlon’s Safe Return to Multisport initiative, including self-screening and temperature checks; face coverings at all times except when actively racing; contact reduction for athletes, staff and volunteers; and increased cleaning and disinfecting practices onsite.
To learn more about the 2021 Americas Triathlon Para Championships, and to register as an elite U.S. paratriathlete, please email paratriathlon@usatriathlon.org. International elite paratriathletes should contact their respective National Federation for registration instructions.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors – as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation – USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
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