For the first time in its history, and at the end of the Polish holidays, Gdańsk will host the 2024 FISU World University Championship Triathlon.
Over 150 students from more than 28 countries will compete 30-31 August in the vicinity of the Brzeźno Pier, located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, and the surrounding streets.
Women’s and men’s individual sprint distance events, consisting of a 750-metre swim, 20 km bike ride, and 5 km run, will take place on day one of competition. Day two will be the mixed relay races involving teams from 22 countries with two women and two men per team. Each athlete will cover 300 metres in water, 5 km on bike, and will complete a 2 km run.
Athletes who have already successfully competed in senior events are amongst the participants and local fans will be hoping for a good result from Polish competitor Roksana Słupek, who recently achieved a historic 13th place at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Although events commence on Friday, the official opening ceremony took place today at the summer stadium of Brzeźno which will also host the medal ceremonies.
On Thursday the athletes from around the world had the opportunity participate in the flag parade and admire Polish folklore dances performed by a student group from the University of Gdańsk.
The ceremony was enriched by welcome speeches from the organisers: Alozjy Nowak, the president of the University Sports Association of Poland; Daichi Suzuki, FISU Executive Committee member; and Adam Korol, the Director of Sports Department at Gdańsk City Council and the Olympic gold medallist in rowing from Beijing.
“We are pleased to organise another huge sporting event. I hope that after your competition you will have time to visit our city and maybe one day you will come back here,” Korol said.
The competition in Gdańsk provides a unique opportunity to promote triathlon among university students and tourists that visit the city in millions annually.
“Every international event, regardless of status, can make triathlon more visible. As a former triathlete myself, I hope that this beautiful sport will become more and more popular thanks to events such as the one we are about to hold in Gdansk,” said event venue manager, Marcin Florek.
It is the first time that Gdańsk welcomes the best young triathletes, but the city has already hosted three previous FISU Championships, most recently in 2008, when student-athletes competed there in match racing in sailing.
“This is a specific event that poses many challenges, but in terms of the athletes, and its colourfulness, it is a very interesting adventure from the organiser’s point of view,” Florek adds.
More information about the Gdańsk 2024 FISU World University Championship Triathlon can be found at the official website of this event.
Written by Piotrek Przyborowski, FISU Young Reporter
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