Tokyo path numbers eight for GB Paralympics Triathlon Team

GB Paralympics has announced its full triathlon team to compete at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games to be staged from 24th August to 5th September. The 8-member team, which includes three guides for athletes with visual impairments are: 

• PTS2 – Fran Brown 
• PTS4 – Michael Taylor 
• PTS5 – Claire Cashmore, Lauren Steadman, George Peasgood 
• PTVI – Alison Peasgood (Nikki Bartlett), Melissa Reid (Hazel Smith), Dave Ellis (Luke Pollard) 

Fran Brown (PTS2) travels to her maiden Games as PTS2 World and European champion. Although she is no stranger to the international scene as a multi-sport athlete, she is also a 2-x world Paraclimbing Champion and also a British Paracycling Women’s Time Trial Champion. 

PTS2 – athletes with the most severe impairments. Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices.   

Michael Taylor (PTS4) took Gold at the 2021 World Triathlon Para Cup to the sound of ‘Tokyo Calling’. Since Taylor moved onto the British Para-Triathlon performance squad in November 2019, he has continued his rapid rise in world paratriathlon which has seen him move up to 5th place in the Paralympic Qualification Ranking enough for him to secure a place at Tokyo’s summer Paralympic Games this August. 

PTS4 category: Less severe impairments. Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices 

Lauren Steadman and Claire Cashmore (PTS5) are the dominant force in their category with Cashmore ranking 1st and Steadman 2nd in the Paralympic Qualification Rankings.  

Steadman is in fine form going into these Games having taken gold at the World Triathlon Para Series Leeds and another gold in A Coruna at the World Triathlon Para Cup 2021. 

Cashmore made her switch to Para triathlon from being a Paralympic swimming champion in 2017 and hasn’t looked back having won world gold in 2019. 

They will both line up alongside each other in Toyko in one of the most competitive classifications in the sport. 

George Peasgood (PTS5) has been selected to represent Paralympics GB for the second time after making his debut at Rio 2016. This year has seen him win gold at the World Triathlon Para Series in Yokohama – a race which saw him beat the Paralympic champion for the first time in his career. 

PTS5 category: Minimal impairments. Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices. 

Alison Peasgood (PTV1) locked down her spot for Toyko having secured bronze at her first race in over a year at the World Triathlon Para Series Leeds before winning gold at the World Triathlon Para Cup in A Coruna. Peasgood will be guided by Nikki Bartlett in Tokyo. 

Melissa Reid (PTV1) is a ITU World Champion and ETU European Champion.  She also took bronze in the Paralympics at Rio 2016 and will be looking to better that in Toyko racing alongside her guide Hazel Macleod. 

Dave Ellis (PTV1) who swam for Britain in Beijing in 2008 and will be guided by Luke Pollard, has won two world titles since switching sports in 2013 and is set for his maiden Paralympic triathlon outing after his PTVI classification was not included at Rio. Ranked first in the Olympic rankings he will be looking for the top of the podium at Tokyo. 

PTVI category: Visually impaired (B2 or B3) or blind (B1). Start times factored with blind athletes starting ahead of those with some vision (less than 10 percent). First to cross the finishing line in overall PTVI category is the winner. A guide is compulsory throughout the race and the cycling leg is done in tandem.