British World #1 Kate Waugh Headlines Gold Coast T100 Triathlon

March 3, 2026

Gold Coast, Australia (March 3, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Reigning T100 Champion and World #1 Kate Waugh will headline the women’s professional race at the Gold Coast T100 Triathlon weekend on 21-22 March, 2026.

The British star, who won the 2025 T100 Race To Qatar in Doha last December, begins the new T100 season as the woman to beat over the Professional Triathletes Organisation’s signature 100km distance (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run).

“I can’t wait to get back on the start line in Australia,” said the 26 year old Brit, who won the first T100 race down under in Wollongong on 18 October on the way to her first ever World Championship in the spor.

“I’ve never started a new season as a World Champion or the World #1. So it’s a bit surreal in some ways, but I’ve had a great break, put in a lot of hard work and I’m looking forward to seeing where I’m at in the first race of the season on what looks an amazing course on the Gold Coast.”

She will take on a high class field that includes Switzerland’s Julie Derron, who finished second to Waugh last season, as well as the powerful Australian duo of Ashleigh Gentle and Ellie Salthouse, who will be looking to start their year’s with a win on home soil.

“It’s so exciting to be able to kick off my season at home in the Gold Coast T100 Triathlon,” said Salthouse, who lives in Brisbane and finished the 2025 T100 Tour on a high by coming fourth in the Qatar in December as well as fourth in the Wollongong in October. “My T100 finishes at the end of last year were really encouraging and I’m aiming to kick on and get onto a T100 podium this year. Doing that in my home race next month would be a great way to start 2026.”

Ashleigh Gentle, who lives on the Gold Coast and attended the launch when the event was announced last year, said: “The Gold Coast is the most perfect place for a T100 triathlon event, so everyone is really looking forward to the race and I can’t wait to be able to experience the course with Gold Coasters and Australians.”

The competition will be intense for Waugh to hang onto her T100 crown. US Olympian and 2024 T100 World Champion Taylor Knibb will also travel to Australia to try and begin her season with a bang.

The start list of professional women competing in the Gold Coast T100 is here and includes:

1. Kate Waugh (GBR)
2. Julie Derron (SUI)
3. Taylor Knibb (USA)
4. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
5. Ellie Salthouse (AUS)
6. Sara Perez Sala (ESP)
7. Hanne De Vet (DEN)
8. Lotte Wilms (NED)
9. Alanis Siffert (SUI)
10. Natalie Van Coevordan (AUS)
11. Daniela Kleiser (GER)
12. Marlene De Boer (NED)
13. Lena Meissner (GER)
14. Imogen Simmonds (SWI)
15. Katrine Graesboll Christensen (DEN)
16. Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL)
17. Jessica Fullagar (GBR)
18. Danielle De Francesco (AUS)
19. Regan Hollioake (AUS)
20. Chloe Hartnett (AUS)

The T100 Tour is a global series for the world’s greatest endurance athletes with Queensland’s popular event destination chosen to sit alongside other iconic locations including Singapore, San Francisco, London, Lake Las Vegas, Vancouver, Dubai and Qatar.

It will also feature a mass participation 100km (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run) and Olympic distance triathlons for amateur athletes, which have already proven extremely popular with the community after the 100km race sold out in just nine days.

There are still a few spots left for the Olympic distance. There is also a mass participation 10km run taking place on 22 March. People can sign up for both events here: https://t100triathlon.com/gold-coast/participate/

The T100 is part of the Event Management Queensland’s expanding portfolio of major sporting events which already includes the annual ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Running Festival and the biennial Pan Pacific Masters Games.

The 2026 T100 Triathlon is supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism & Events Queensland.

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For Further Information:

Adam Gardini E: media@emqevents.com.au
Anthony Scammell E: Anthony.Scammell@protriathletes.org

About the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO)

The PTO is a sports body that is co-owned by its professional athletes, seeking to elevate and grow the sport of triathlon and take it to the next level. Its T100 Triathlon World Tour was introduced in January 2024 and is designated by World Triathlon as the ‘official World Championship for long distance triathlon’, which is part of a 12-year strategic partnership with the sport’s international governing body. The T100 Triathlon World Tour is a season-long schedule of World Championship level races competed over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run), where the world’s best triathletes go head-to-head in iconic locations on a global broadcast showing the races live around the world in 195+ territories, courtesy of the PTO’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as well as a range of other international, regional and local broadcasters. In 2026, T100 Tour will deliver its 9-stop T100 Race To Qatar to: the Gold Coast (21-22 March), Singapore (25-26 April), Spain (23-24 May), San Francisco (6-7 June), Vancouver (15-16 August), French Riviera (19-20 September), Dubai (12-15 November), Saudi Arabia (November) & Qatar (11-12th December). T100 weekends are ‘festivals of multisport’ and feature a range of opportunities for amateur athletes of all levels to get involved. From experienced amateurs tackling the 100km distance to first-time swim, bike and run participants taking on single discipline, untimed events. For more information visit www.t100triathlon.com

About Events Management Queensland

Events Management Queensland (EMQ) is a major event management company wholly owned by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

Managers of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, the Toowoomba Running Festival and the Pan Pacific Masters Games, Events Management Queensland produces high profile, mass participation sporting events that maximise economic and tourism impact to the region.

The events provide an enjoyable and memorable event experience that showcases Queensland whilst maintaining world class event management standards.

About Experience Gold Coast – Queensland

Located in the southeast corner of Queensland, the Gold Coast embodies fresh energy. From ancient rainforests and world-class surfing beaches this stunning coastal city offers 300+ days of sunshine and hosts some of the country’s largest international sporting events including the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, the Pan Pacific Master Games, GC500 Supercars and the Australian Surf Lifesaving Titles.

About Queensland

Queensland, Australia, is a vibrant and diverse state renowned for its stunning landscapes, world-class tourism experiences, and dynamic events calendar. From the iconic Great Barrier Reef to the lush Daintree Rainforest, Queensland offers breath taking natural wonders that attract visitors from around the globe. The state is also home to golden beaches, thrilling theme parks, and rich cultural heritage, making it a top destination for adventure seekers and relaxation enthusiasts alike.

Queensland’s events calendar is filled with a variety of cultural, sporting and entertainment events that draw local and international visitors and competitors. Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) plays a crucial role in promoting the state’s attractions and hosting world-class events that showcase Queensland to the world.