Canada’s Paula Findlay Leads Star Lineup at Vancouver T100 Triathlon

When the T100 Triathlon World Tour hits Vancouver this weekend, all eyes will be on Canadian star Paula Findlay, who’s racing on home soil after placing fourth at the tour’s San Francisco stop just two weeks ago.

Findlay, 36, a two-time Olympian, says she’s approaching the high-stakes race with calm focus: “There’s a lot of pressure racing in Canada — but I’ve learned not to let that overwhelm me. The key is to stay present and adapt to whatever challenges come up.”

The T100 Vancouver event spans three days and includes thousands of amateur racers, but the highlight is Saturday’s elite men’s and women’s races. The 100-kilometre course features a 2 km swim in English Bay starting at Locarno Beach, an 80 km bike ride looping around UBC’s Marine Drive, and an 18 km run along Spanish Banks.

Findlay hopes to break into the medals, but knows the depth of talent makes predictions impossible. “It’s a super competitive field. A great race could still mean finishing fifth or sixth,” she said.

Her continued motivation comes in part from the rise of the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO), which launched the T100 tour last year. Findlay is one of 32 contracted athletes — 16 men and 16 women — receiving support through a structure that offers salaries, prize money, and bonuses totaling over $7 million this season.

“The PTO has made triathlon more viable as a career,” said Findlay. “Before this, only a handful of people could make a living in the sport.”

Boosting Women’s Involvement

Beyond elite competition, the Vancouver event is setting a new standard for female participation. With 34% of racers identifying as women or girls, it’s the most gender-balanced T100 event to date.

That growth is being championed by athletes like Bronwyn Davies, a Vancouver amateur who took up triathlon three years ago after watching from the sidelines. Now an age-group ambassador for the tour, she’s also behind the Women in Triathlon forum held earlier this week.

“Community is everything,” Davies said. “The sport can be tough, but when you have training partners to swim, bike, and stop at cafés with — that’s what makes it fun and keeps you going.”

The men’s pro race kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the women’s race at noon. With a world-class field and a strong hometown presence, all signs point to an exciting weekend of triathlon in Vancouver.