A successful transition to cycling, another sold-out Ironman race, and more: catch up on the highs, lows, and big moves in the multisport world for this month.
February 2026 was a busy pre-season month for triathlon news. Read up on what you might have missed. (Photo: Triathlete)
Updated February 27, 2026 06:40AM
February 2026 triathlon news
February 2026 was full of highs and lows for the triathlon community, from Ironman rule updates barring athletes from taking photo and video on-course to the news that two-time NCAA triathlon champion Hannah Henry was killed by a fentanyl-impaired driver while on a training ride.
We pored over data that suggests the U.S. triathlon market is bigger than previously thought, embraced the digital detox, and nerded out over the indoor training setups of the pros. We looked at the accuracy of heart rate monitors and added the Spudman Triathlon to our triathlon bucket list.
Before moving to the (hopefully-warmer) month of March, let’s take a look back at the triathlon news you may have missed this month.
Maya Kingma Wins First Race as Pro Cyclist
Two-time Olympian Maya Kingma (NED) is off to a winning start in her new venture as a pro cyclist. The former pro triathlete took a thrilling victory at the Trofeo Arti e Mesteri della Tradizione Mugellana in Italy.
According to cycling news outlet Bicitv, Kingma battled challenging conditions and intense competition through the 52-mile course, breaking away in the final six miles to take the victory in 2:11:03. Kingma joins the ranks of other pro triathletes who have found success in cycling, including Taylor Knibb, Nikki Butterfield, and Jennifer Luebke.
Donors Commit to Funding Paratriathlon Nationals Through 2029
The USA Triathlon Foundation announced it received a multi-year gift from donors Rosalind Jarrett Sepulveda and Lamar Sepulveda to fully fund the USA Triathlon Paratriathlon National Championships Prize Purse through 2029.
The purse will be named the Jarrett Sepulveda Paratriathlon Prize Purse, and will provide financial awards for elite paratriathletes. The 2026 USA Paratriathlon National Championships will take place Aug. 7–9 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as part of USA Triathlon Nationals, with prize money awarded on Aug. 9.
Paratriathlon continues to gain momentum, highlighted by the record-high registration numbers for the 2025 Paratriathlon Nationals race. Although the 2025 event was ultimately canceled due to weather, all registered athletes received a $500 award.
IOC Approves Olympic Qualification Criteria for LA28 Olympics
This month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the World Triathlon Qualification System for the LA28 Olympic Games, featuring Men’s Individual, Women’s Individual, and Mixed Relay events with 110 total athletes (55 men, 55 women).
Key qualification routes include the mixed relay qualification and the individual Olympic qualification ranking. Additionally, up to 10 athletes can qualify via expanded “New Flag” opportunities, along with universality places. Nation limits will restrict the number of athletes per gender to three for top-ranked nations and two for all other nations.
Inaugural Ironman 70.3 Versailles Sells Out in 3 Hours
The inaugural Ironman 70.3 Versailles triathlon in France, sold out in less than three hours, marking the fastest sell-out globally for the 2026 season and the quickest-ever Ironman 70.3 sell-out in Europe, Endurance.Biz reported this month.
The race, which is scheduled for July 12, will host over 2,500 athletes, with an estimated 40% traveling internationally. The announcement of the race and its setting within the grounds of the Palace of Versailles garnered high interest in an already-packed European calendar, which has five new sold-out races for the 2026 season.
WTCS Abu Dhabi Increases Prize Money for “Blockbuster” Season Opener
The 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) season is set to kick off March 28 with a significant payout. World Triathlon announced the season-opening race in Abu Dhabi will offer a prize purse of $28,500, marking a notable increase from the $19,000 prize money available at other WTCS events this season.
The extra cash comes from the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, which included the bonus prize money in its five-year contract extension with World Triathlon. The March 28 race has already attracted a stellar lineup, including world champion Matt Hauser, Olympic Champions Alex Yee and Cassandre Beaugrand, and two-time Olympic medalist Beth Potter, along with the first mixed team relay competition of the year.
The Most-Read Triathlete Stories of February 2026
- Can I Use My Phone During an Ironman or 70.3 Triathlon?
- Fentanyl-Impaired Driver Kills Triathlete Hannah Henry
- How Many Hours Does it Take to Conquer Ironman?
- Learning How to Swim For Triathlon: Our Complete Guide
- A Neuroscientist Explains How to Spend Your Rest Days
- Are You Wearing One of the 10 Safest Bike Helmets? Check the List
- Why Triathletes are Embracing the Digital Detox
- Pro Triathletes Show Off Their Impressive Indoor Setups
- Ironman’s Draft-Zone Updates Would’ve Scrambled Last Year’s Top 10 in Kona and Nice
- PTO Acquires Majority Shareholding in Challenge Family
