Wood (again!) and Guitry strike gold as Team NZL continue to punch above weight in Abu Dhabi

🇳🇿 A second world title for 87-year-old John Wood in as many days, a maiden gold medal for Tauranga teen Ashton Guitry and a 4^th world champs podium for Taranaki para triathlete Bruce Jordan.

Team NZL had only five age groupers competing on day two of the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi overnight but again punched well above its weight.

The age group golds for Tri Wellington’s Wood in the 85-89 standard distance duathlon and for Triathlon Tauranga’s Guitry in the 18-19 category kept New Zealand third on the able bodied medal table behind GBR and USA.

New Zealand’s seven medals – plus Jordan’s PTS5 duathlon silver – lead the Kiwis into Monday’s rest day at Hudayriyat Island buzzing.

87 not out!

A day after capturing the 85-89 sprint distance title on his 87^th birthday, Team NZL flag bearer John Wood secured his 11^th World Triathlon gold medal and 14^th podium overall in this, his 13^th world champs appearance.

Wood was flying solo in his age group this time but know that Brit Vernon Thomas (#2222) won the 80-85 division in 03:31:24 compared to Wood’s 03:44:34 – and the legendary Kiwi was giving Thomas a five year head start!

Guitry had just one young man to beat in the 18-19 age group and did so convincingly, putting more than seven minutes into Pole Karol Halski.

It followed the Tri Tauranga member’s 4^th over the sprint distance and is the continuation of a busy few days for Guitry who lines up in Tuesday’s Cross Triathlon and Thursday’s Cross Duathlon. Think normal triathlon/duathlon, just with trails and mountain bikes instead of tarmac and road bikes.

Jordan was also in a two-man race and finished 13mins 28s behind Russia’s Aleksandr Konyshev. The Taranaki Triathlon Club member has the aquathlon and long distance triathlon to look forward to on his busy schedule in Abu Dhabi.

Also overnight, Auckland City Triathlon Club’s Mark Stewart was 4th in the 45-49 standard distance duathlon, mirroring his sprint distance result. Offshore Kiwi Boris Bourdin was 16th in the 55-59 category.

Tuesday sees a resumption of action with the Cross Triathlon.

Thomasina Loeffen (Canterbury Triathlon Club/ 30-34), Stephanie Scott (Tri Wellington / 35-39), Guitry and James Buchanan (Auckland City Triathlon Club / 18-19) will contest the Cross Triathlon for Team NZL. Loeffen and Guitry then back up in Thursday’s Cross Duathlon.

World Triathlon Multisport Championships
Abu Dhabi
November 15, 2026

PTS5 Men
1. Aleksandr Konyshev (RUS) – 01:00:28
2. Bruce Jordan (NZL) – 01:13:56 (+13:28)

Standard Distance Duathlon

18-19
1. Ashton Guitry (NZL) – 02:06:16
2. Karol Halski (POL) – 02:13:33 (+7:17)

45-49
4. Mark Stewart (NZL) – 02:06:49 (+10:02)

55-59
16. Boris Bourdin (NZL) – 02:49:10 (+42:00)

85-89 1939
1. John Wood (NZL) – 03:44:34

📷 World Triathlon + Mel Saltiel/Tri NZ