Taylor Knibb Opens Season With Narrow Win at Gold Coast T100

In a reformatted T100 Tour for 2026, all eyes were on the women as they took on the rough surf and heat of Gold Coast, Australia, with increased prize money on the line – including $50,000 for the winner.

2024 champion Taylor Knibb (USA) returned to the series to kick off what is set to be a busy season, with another start at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside coming next weekend.

The conditions looked set to challenge Knibb and the field from the start. The swim, in particular, with heavy surf, chop, and intense currents, made it one of the most dramatic professional swims in recent years, as athletes handled the conditions with varying degrees of skill and experience.

Many athletes prepared specifically for it in the lead-up. Ellie Salthouse (AUS) had reportedly been taking lessons in the surf, while local Danielle De Francesco (AUS) – an open-water swimmer and former pro cyclist returning to triathlon – had a big advantage, being from just 10km from the course.

The chaotic swim became especially evident when, with around 750 meters to go, Sara Perez Sala (ESP) swam off course, briefly leading others in the wrong direction before correcting back to the buoy, now behind the front pack alongside Taylor Knibb.

In the end, it was 25-year-old Jessica Fullagar (GBR), making her T100 debut, who handled the swim best. Coming off an impressive win at the Noosa Olympic-distance non-drafting race at the end of 2025, she exited the water first and quickly extended her advantage on the bike. Interesting to note that the bike she was riding was borrowed from fellow T100 athlete and friend, Lucy Byram (GBR), who wasn’t able to race due to injury.

Knibb, who came out of the water more than 30 seconds down, worked her way forward steadily. It wasn’t as immediate as many would expect, only reaching the front with around 30km remaining on the bike.

Imogen Simmonds (CHE), continuing her return to racing after competing late in 2025, stayed within striking distance for much of the ride, holding around 90 seconds to two minutes back, before eventually drifting to about three minutes by T2.

Knibb started the run with a 1:20 lead over Fullagar, but there was an early response, as Fullagar took back around 10 seconds almost immediately out of transition. Simmonds was running well and was clear of the rest of the field by at least two minutes, but continued to lose more time to the front as the run developed.

By about a quarter of the way through the run, the gap between Knibb and Fullagar had settled to 50 seconds and remained thereabouts over the next several laps as the two ran evenly paced.

Toward the end, Knibb slightly extended her advantage and opened her 2026 campaign in stride, with Fullager impressing on debut, finishing just a minute behind. Speaking immediately after the race, Knibb shared that it was a “fun race” but that she was a bit “shellshocked” by the swim conditions, while Fullager modestly admitted she made some rookie mistakes and that she needs to learn to pace the longer distances better.

Fullagar clearly has a future at the 100km distance alongside her short-course racing. Both she and Knibb will return to that distance as the qualification journey for the LA 2028 Olympics begins this year. And if they decide to return for more 100km action, they will likely face an even stronger returning field, as the likes of 2025 champion Kate Waugh (GBR), Julie Derron (CHE), and Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) were all absent from this race.

The next women’s T100 race takes place in Spain on May 23.

2026 Gold Coast T100 women’s results