Duathlon makes its full debut at the 2022 World Games this weekend, with men’s and women’s individual races on 16 July as well as a 2X2 Mixed Relay the following day in Birmingham, Alabama.

Launched in 1981, the World Games was designed to be a major international event for sports that were not part of the Olympic Games. Triathlon was originally included in the schedule back in 1993 before its full incorporation into the Olympics at Sydney 2000, and it was in 2013 and 2022 that duathlon was invited to be part of the World Games line up.

Back in Cali 2013, it was irrepressible Ai Ueda and Belgium’s Rob Woestenborghs who took the titles, and the Japanese legend returns to defend her title nine years later, having switched her focus to duathlon, finishing with bronze and silver in the past two World Championships in Aviles and Targu Mures.

It was Joselyn Daniely Brea Abreu (VEN) who took that title in Romania, and she will also take to the World Games start line along with the likes of Sandrina Illes (AUT) and Antoanela Manac (ROU).

In the men’s race, the 2019 Duathlon World Champion and runner up in Targu Mures Benjamin Choquert will go head to head with fellow French talent Nathan Guerbeur as well as podium contenders Arnaud Dely (BEL) and Netherlands Daan de Groot.

Other sports on the programme include karate, gymnastics, squash, baseball and hockey, the action running from 8-17 July. Keep an eye on World Triathlon social media for all the updates from Birmingham as the athletes get ready to go for World Games golds.