To commemorate a dazzling year of paratriathlon racing, we chose to reflect on the season and thoroughly pick a handful of winners for our 2023 TRI247 Triathlon Awards.
For our 4th award, we’re acknowledging the efforts of the very best male paratriathlon racers, with our ‘Male Paratriathlete of the Year’ Award, selected from a shortlist of amazing professional athletes by our specialist panel.
This year, the shortlist was comprised of Dutchman Jetze Plat, Frenchman Alexis Hanquinquant, Spaniard Daniel Molina and Great British star Dave Ellis.
The Nominees
With numerous terrific paratriathletes making their case for this award in 2023, we were entrusted to the tough choice of narrowing it down to a list of simply 4 professional athletes. Ultimately, we developed the candidates, Plat, Hanquinquant, Molina and Ellis, whose accomplishments we will all take a look at in depth.
Image Credit: Wagner Araujo/ World Triathlon
Starting with Ellis, who in addition to guide Luke Pollard took pleasure in an extraordinary season in 2023, as the Brit won 6 of his 7 races throughout a golden 5 month duration.
After ending up 2nd at the European Duathlon Championship in Madrid at the start of the season, which was altered to a duathlon due to water quality problems, Ellis went on to win his next 6 races, which culminated with a World Championship title in Pontevedra.
Having actually lost out on a medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games after a damaged bike chain throughout the race, Ellis will be the company preferred for the gold medal next summertime in Paris.
Next, French Paralympic champ Hanquinquant is another leading paratriathlete who looks primed for Paris next year, as he aims to safeguard his Paralympic title on home soil after an unbeaten season in 2023.
In addition to a European title in Madrid, Hanquinquant won in front of a home crowd at the Paris Test Event before clinching the world title in Pontevedra, beating fellow compatriot Pierre-Antoine Baele to take home a 6th successive title.
Molina is a guy with a lot to look forward to after a dazzling 2023, with the Spaniard, who turns 50 next year, lastly getting the chance to contend for Paralympic gold with his category consisted of next year in Paris.
Unbeaten in 2023, Molina protected back-to-back world champion titles with an unforgettable win on home grass in Pontevedra, in addition to getting a nationwide title and winning the European Championship once again in front of a home crowd in Madrid.
Each of Ellis, Molina and Hanquinquant were more than deserving of winning the award, having actually delighted in an unbelievable quantity of success in a thrilling season. For our panel, there might just be one winner after a sensational 12 months.
Our Winner– Jetze Plat
Plat, who will be racing for his 3rd successive Paralympic gold medal next year in Paris, had a dazzling year in 2023,
