CLAIRE Cashmore cruised to gold in the PTS5 women’s race at the 2024 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea.
The Redditch athlete looked untouchable on the SA1 Waterfront with dominant showings in the water and on the bike to cross the line nearly two minutes ahead of second place.
Cashmore hopes to take part in her sixth Paralympics at Paris 2024 and rose to the occasion to bank vital points in the penultimate race of the qualification window for the Games this summer.
Cashmore said: “At each little bit of the course there were different people cheering you on and that just made such a difference.
“Swansea really did put on a good show and the crowd were brilliant, so that really, really helped.
“I really thrive off people being there and people cheering you on. Particularly coming from the pool where you’re in a quite closed environment, where all you hear is just that real noise. I love that.
“I can’t wait to have those huge crowds, hopefully in Paris.”
Cashmore was the first PTS5 athlete to cross the line on a bumper day of action in Wales but the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist is refusing to rest on her laurels.
However, the Redditch triathlete insists US superstar Grace Norman, who did not take part in the race in Swansea, poses the biggest threat to her podium hopes in Paris.
Cashmore added: “There’s lots of work still to be done. Grace is an absolutely phenomenal runner, biker, and swimmer, so there’s lots to be done.
“There’ll be no resting on my laurels, so it’ll be back to business and back to the drawing board.”
The event in Swansea kept sustainability at its heart – achieving gold in World Triathlon’s Sustainability Certification.
And Cashmore was also delighted to race in front of home support as spectators packed out the event village and marina market.
Cashmore said: “I love it, I just love it. What better job could you have than to be an elite athlete?
“It’s a privilege and I love what I do, and I think until I stop loving it and as long I’m good enough, I’ll keep carrying on.”
World Triathlon Para Series Swansea welcomed some of the best paratriathletes in the world to swim, bike, run in South Wales. To start your journey in paratriathlon and find out more about the sport, visit https://www.britishtriathlon.org/paratriathlontalentid.
