University of Bath graduate Harry Wiltshire beat off tough competition to win the World University Triathlon Championship in Switzerland.  

The 23–year–old produced a strong sprint finish to take the title in Lausanne by just seven seconds from Germany’s Jan Raphael at the end of the Olympic distance triathlon.

He becomes the first British competitor to win the men’s title at the World University Triathlon Championships and the first University of Bath triathlete to win one of the individual titles. Wiltshire, who graduated with a 2.1 degree in Business Administration from the University of Bath’s School of Management this summer, led the field coming out of the 1.5km swim. Some of his rivals gradually dropped off the leading group during the 40m cycle and 10km run until it became a head–to–head between Harry and his German opponent.

Raphael tried to break Wiltshire, but he stayed with the German and then produced a devastating sprint in the final 250m to run away from Raphael.

“I’m very pleased. It was the best race I’ve have this season, but it was a bit of a shock to win,” said WiItshire. ”I’ve been training hard, but I’ve had some pretty average results. There have been times this summer when I didn’t know where my running legs were, but I’ve just kept plugging away at it.

“I knew there some quick runners that I thought would be quicker than me, so I wanted to make sure they weren’t still in the group for the bike,” he added.

“I pushed out hard during the swim and we were down to about 12 athletes left for the bike course. A few more dropped off the bike group and then we lost a couple more on each of the first of four laps of the run. With a lap and a half to go there were just two of us left.

“The German guy was probably the pre–race favourite, and kept surging during the run, but I stayed with him, and when I sprinted at the end, he couldn’t go with me.”

Wiltshire crossed the line in Saturday’s race in 1:53.31, with Raphael coming home in 1:53.38 and Italy’s Ivan Risti taking bronze in 1:53.51. There were 69 athletes taking part in the men’s race.

Wiltshire’s performance helped the GB men’s team finish fifth in the team event.

But Wiltshire won’t be resting on his laurels – he is due to compete in the International Triathlon Union Aquathlon World Championships also in Lausanne tomorrow (Wednesday).

The University of Bath has been Wiltshire’s UK training base for the last five years, although he also has stints training in Switzerland and Brazil. He is planning to continue training in Switzerland for about another month and will then return to the UK in train through the winter in Bath.

Wiltshire completed his degree in February – he was allowed to extend his period of study beyond the usual four years so he could make the most of both his academic and sporting commitments.

Wiltshire has received Government funding through the through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).

Chris Volley, head triathlon coach at the University of Bath, said: “Harry’s success in Switzerland show we have a good programme running here that is starting to produce results. Harry doesn’t ever give up and he is now starting to get the rewards for his efforts.”

John Mills, British team manager at the eighth World University Triathlon Championships, said: “It was a fantastic performance. He was first out of the swim, led the group in the bike ride and the run, and then produced an absolutely awesome sprint finish. It was a great result both for the British team and for the University of Bath.”

He also one of the first recipients of a new fund for athletes supported by Alumni of the University of Bath. This makes funding available contribute towards the costs of student athletes, like Wiltshire, who have been selected to compete at the World University Games or World University Championships.

Wayne Roberts, Sports Development Officer at the University of Bath, said: ”We are delighted that the Alumni have seen fit to financially support some of our best student athletes competing internationally.”

University of Bath student Emma Davis also competes in the Aquathlon World Championships tomorrow, while Georgie Rutherford and Jamie Hall go into action in the 20–24 age groups at the World Age Group Championships, also in Switzerland, on Saturday (2nd September).

Emma was recently winner of the Irish national championships, where fellow TeamBath athlete Simon Biddell took the under–23 title.

Meanwhile Abigail Bailey finished just outside the medals in sixth in the European Long Distance Championships in Holland – an event that features a 4km swim, 120km bike stage followed by a 30km run.

The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its TeamBath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.

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