🇮🇪 James Corbett admits the “tough decision” to chase his LA Olympic Games dream with Ireland, rather than New Zealand, was one he’d been pondering for a several years.
The 23-year-old’s switch of allegiance has been ratified by World Triathlon after Tri NZ decided not to contest the move, respecting Corbett’s wishes to follow his family to Europe.
Corbett’s Irish eligibility comes through his father, Paul, and on paper the switch shapes as a smart Olympic play, albeit tough on Tri NZ given its investment in the full-throttle racer – “Turbo Corbo” to some – since 2018.
Currently ranked world No.56, Corbett looks to have given himself a strong chance to become Ireland’s leading male athlete heading toward LA ’28. At present, the nation’s top-ranked male is James Edgar at No.122 in the official World Triathlon rankings.
“I’m genuinely really excited about everything ahead,” Corbett told SBR-Tri.com.
“With the LA Olympics coming up and that being a major goal, I felt it was important to try absolutely everything I can to give myself the best chance of making it.
“New Zealand is an incredible federation, and I’m extremely grateful for everything Tri NZ has given me. But with my family moving away from New Zealand, it felt like a good time for me to.
“With most racing based in Europe now, it made sense to transition while the timing felt right, especially with no immediate family left in NZ. Realistically, it would’ve been hard to justify constantly travelling back down with no base there anymore.”
Under World Triathlon rules, Corbett will serve a one-year stand-down period before he can officially wear the Ireland race suit. That stand-down expires in September 2026, just after the WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra.
Importantly, it does not prevent him from racing.
During the stand down period, Corbett will compete in World Triathlon’s ‘AIN’ (Individual Neutral Athletes) race suit. He is still eligible to earn world ranking points and, critically, Olympic qualifying points once the LA qualification window opens on May 18.
Corbett’s upward trajectory over the past two seasons, coupled with the stars ahead of him in the Team NZL pecking order (Wilde, McCullough, Reid), makes his switch easier to understand.
His breakthrough came with victory at Asia Cup Tokyo Uminomori in September 2024, and last season he added the Oceania U23 title at the concurrently staged Oceania Standard Distance Championships in Tasmania. On that memorable day in Devonport, Corbett finished second overall behind experienced Aussie Brandon Copeland, a performance that underlined his growing senior potential.
The back end of his 2025 European campaign proved frustrating. Illness saw him DNF at WTCS Hamburg, coming not long after he’d recorded his best WTCS result to date, 28th at WTCS Alghero in May. He finished the season on a positive note, however, with three top-five finishes at Asia Cup events.
Currently heat training in Australia, Corbett’s short term focus is on locking in his place at the very top level of the sport. He’ll kick start that at the Oceania Sprint Championships in Napier on March 1.
“This year is really about building momentum, making a name for myself, and cementing myself as a WTCS athlete,” Corbett said.
“I’ll go hard for early points and once the Olympic qualification period opens, what comes next will depend on my world ranking and positioning. But you’ll see me in Napier first to blow out the cobwebs before the big dance in Abu Dhabi [opening round of the 2026 WTCS on March 29-30].”
While the future points toward Ireland, Corbett is emotional about what representing New Zealand has meant to him.
“Wearing the fern has always been a huge privilege and a massive goal of mine. When I moved from Asia to New Zealand at 15, I truly realised how special wearing the fern was.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to have so much support from Tri NZ and from mentors like Sophie Gywn, Craig Kirkwood, Nathan Richmond, Mark Bone, and so many others. Racing for New Zealand at world championships are memories I’ll carry forever. Especially the team environment.”
He also pointed to Cambridge, where he finished his secondary schooling, as a defining chapter in his development.
“Living in Cambridge played a massive role. Being surrounded by people like Sam Ward, Tayler Reid and Ryan Sissons at such a young age only made the hunger stronger and the dream bigger.”
Ultimately, Corbett says the decision wasn’t rushed, rather backed by a family trait.
“My family are risk takers, and I think that mindset has definitely rubbed off on me,” Corbett said.
“Leaving Tri NZ was a tough decision, one I’d been thinking about for a few years. With all the changes happening in my family, it felt like the right time. And with my world ranking being high enough to get WTCS starts, it gives me a great opportunity.”
