World Paratriathlon Finals: How Brazilian Athletes Performed
With Érika Rodrigues claiming silver and insights from Ruiter Silva, Jorge Fonseca, and Jonas Souza, Brazilian paratriathletes reflect on Pontevedra.
Directly from Pontevedra, Brazilian paratriathletes Érika Rodrigues, Ruiter Silva, Jorge Fonseca, and Jonas Souza analyze their World Championship performances. They discuss course challenges, key takeaways, and their road toward the Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
The World Triathlon Para Championship Finals, held in Pontevedra, Spain, brought together the sport's elite for high-level competition. Brazilian paratriathletes evaluated their race performances, the challenges faced across the swim, bike, and run courses, and outlined the next steps in their Paralympic cycle.
Historic silver for Érika Rodrigues in the PTS5 class
Brazil's Érika Rodrigues secured the silver medal in the PTS5 category. After finishing fifth in the previous edition, she kept a podium finish as her primary objective throughout the race. Facing intense pressure during the swim, she exited the water in fourth position and held her ground on the bike leg to protect her advantage all the way to the finish line.
The achievement capped a season spent largely abroad, featuring competitive outings at events in Japan and Hamburg. Alongside her coaching staff, Érika highlighted her full-time commitment to training and reaffirmed that the ultimate goal of their work is reaching the podium at the Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
Resilience and key takeaways for Ruiter Silva
Also competing in the PTS5 category, Ruiter Silva finished the event in 11th place. The triathlete, who enjoyed a solid start to the season with a fifth-place finish at the Yokohama stage, reported struggles on the bike leg, where his physical output didn't respond as planned throughout the laps.
Despite falling short of his personal expectations in Pontevedra, Ruiter emphasized the support from the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation (CBTri) during training camps and the importance of learning from the experience. He stressed the maturity needed to handle the ups and downs of elite sports without compromising preparations for upcoming competitions.
Reflection and veteran perspective from Jorge Fonseca in PTS4
In the PTS4 class, Jorge Fonseca faced fierce competition in one of the championship's largest fields. The Brazilian highlighted the complexity of the grid, which brings together athletes with various types of amputations, and noted the fatigue felt on the bike course following a solid swim.
At nearly 42 years old and with 13 years representing the Brazilian national team, Jorge touched on his transition phase and the physical demands of recovery periods, hinting at a potential end to his competitive career. His preparation for the event included a month of training in Rio Maior, Portugal, alongside competing in domestic and international races across Europe.
Constant progress for Jonas Souza in the PTS3 class
In the PTS3 class, Jonas Souza reflected on his performance at the Championship Finals, calling this season the best of his athletic career. The paratriathlete tackled the demanding elevation profile of the Spanish bike course and pushed to make up ground on the run, emphasizing the value of his technical training block on European soil.
Training full-time with the support of CBTri, Jonas wraps up the season with his sights set on the World Cup in San Pedro de la Paz, Chile, while maintaining a long-term focus on qualifying for the Los Angeles Paralympic Games.