Tom Williamson has won bronze at the Europen Triathlon Para Championships in Tarragona, securing his third consecutive European Championship medal in the Men’s PTS5 category.
Williamson finished third in Spain in a time of 1:02:18, adding to the European bronze medals he won in Vichy in 2024 and Besançon in 2025.
The Irish Para triathlete produced a strong all-round race, recording the second fastest swim split of the field in 9:40 before completing the bike leg in 31:04. He also produced the fastest second transition of the race, before closing out the run in 19:07.
Hungary’s Bence Mocsari won gold in 1:00:04, with Portugal’s Filipe Marques taking silver in 1:00:55.
The result continues a strong period of international consistency for Williamson, who has now stood on the European podium in each of the last three editions of the Championships.
Ireland had a strong team in action in Tarragona, with athletes competing across the Men’s PTS5, Women’s PTVI and Men’s PTVI categories.
In the Women’s PTVI race, Judith MacCombe and guide Eimear Nicholls finished fourth in 1:09:51, narrowly outside the podium places. The Irish pairing produced the fastest bike split of the race in 30:40, as well as the fastest second transition, before finishing just outside the medals.
For Chloe MacCombe, Tarragona also marked an important return to racing. Speaking before the European Championships, MacCombe said: “I love the challenge, but this race feels like more of a gratitude race for me. It has been a challenging year for me mentally, so to be wearing the Irish trisuit again, to finally have a guide in place, and to get a race start for the season means a huge amount.”
MacCombe raced with new guide Jemma Speers for the first time in Tarragona, with the pair finishing fifth in 1:11:52. They completed the swim in 12:20, the bike in 31:59 and closed out the race with a 21:19 run.
Following the race, MacCombe praised Speers for stepping into the role, after going from “three days cruising on a tandem” to taking on a 20km time trial, as well as the tethered swim and run in scorching heat.
In the Men’s PTVI race, Donnacha McCarthy and guide Sean Husband finished ninth in 1:07:41. The Irish pairing completed the swim in 12:56, the bike leg in 31:13 and closed out the race with a 20:46 run, gaining more valuable championship experience at European level.
Irish Results Summary:
Bronze: Tom Williamson, Men’s PTS5
4th: Judith MacCombe and guide Eimear Nicholls, Women’s PTVI
5th: Chloe MacCombe and guide Jemma Speers, Women’s PTVI
9th: Donnacha McCarthy and guide Sean Husband, Men’s PTVI
