USA Triathlon has announced the 2019 Toyota USA Triathlon Paratriathlon National Championships will be held July 20 as part of the inaugural Legacy Triathlon in Long Beach, California. The race will take place at Alamitos Beach, the proposed site of the triathlon competitions at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Athletes will chase national titles in six paratriathlon sport classes.
Paratriathlon Nationals will be held in conjunction with an age-group sprint-distance race, with all athletes covering a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run.
USA Triathlon is the first National Governing Body in the U.S. Olympic family to bring a new annual event to the Los Angeles footprint ahead of the 2028 Games, giving participants the chance to be a part of Southern California’s rich Olympic history.
“The Legacy Triathlon enables our nation’s top paratriathletes to race for national titles on the same roads where they may be competing for gold medals in 2028,” said Amanda Duke Boulet, Paralympic Program Director at USA Triathlon. “The spectator-friendly course and thriving multisport community in Southern California also gives us the exciting opportunity to showcase our USA Paratriathlon standouts to a new audience.”
“We’re delighted to be partnering with USA Triathlon to bring the Toyota USA Paratriathlon National Championships to the home of the 2028 Games,” said Dedra DeLilli, Group Manager, Toyota Olympic/Paralympic Marketing. “We’re grateful that USA Triathlon shares in our commitment to elevate the Paralympics, the sport of paratriathlon, and most importantly, the elite athletes that work tirelessly day in and day out to race at this level.”
USA Triathlon unveiled its vision for the Legacy Triathlon at a press conference in Long Beach last May. Held annually, the Legacy Triathlon will expand into a two-day multisport festival that includes both amateur and elite racing, as well as ancillary activities and community outreach initiatives.
In addition to chasing national titles, athletes competing at the 2019 Toyota USA Triathlon Paratriathlon Nationals also have the opportunity to qualify for the USA Paratriathlon Development Team Program, which is designed to identify and develop athletic potential leading into the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. More information on the USA Paratriathlon Development Team Program is available by clicking here.
Athletes wishing to compete at the 2019 Toyota USA Triathlon Paratriathlon Nationals must be officially classified in a paratriathlon sport class and must have completed a USA Triathlon or ITU Sanctioned Event that meets distance and time standards between May 1, 2018, and July 2, 2019. Athletes who are not classified or who do not meet the time standards may choose to race in the PC Open Division, which does not require qualification. A National Classification opportunity will be offered in Long Beach prior to the event. Complete details on qualification standards, as well as an event schedule and the link to register, are available at thelegacytriathlon.com.
Southern California has a long history of involvement in paratriathlon. The San Diego-based Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) has provided financial and equipment-based support for adaptive athletes since 1997, and CAF’s annual San Diego Triathlon Challenge is one of the largest paratriathlon events in the nation.
For more information on USA Paratriathlon and its grassroots, military and elite programming, visit usaparatriathlon.org. To learn more about Paratriathlon Nationals and the Legacy Triathlon, visit thelegacytriathlon.com.
About USA Paratriathlon: A division of USA Triathlon based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Paratriathlon is dedicated to advancing triathlon participation for individuals with physical and visual impairments. USA Paratriathlon is responsible for designating and supporting the Toyota USA Paratriathlon National and Development Teams, as well as training athletes for international competitions such as the ITU World Paratriathlon Series, ITU Paratriathlon World Championships and the Paralympic Games. In addition, USA Paratriathlon supports grassroots participation by hosting introductory paratriathlon training camps, expanding access for youth and junior paratriathletes, working with military and adaptive sport nonprofits nationwide, and guiding up-and-coming talent through the athlete development pipeline. Visit usaparatriathlon.org to learn more.
About USA Triathlon: USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors – as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation – USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
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