Claire Cashmore: Background, career highlights, quotes
Known for her paratriathlon success in the PTS5 class, Claire Cashmore has led a colourful career thus far. Here's how she found herself on the world stage...
A former, well-decorated Paralympian swimmer, in 2017 Claire Cashmore turned her back on the pool and plumped for a career in paratriathlon, and she’s rarely been off the podium ever since.
So who is she and what’s her story? We find out…
Who is Claire Cashmore?
For many years – and across four Paralympic Games – Claire Cashmore was exclusively known for her prowess in the pool.
Born without a left forearm, she won no fewer than eight Paralympic medals in the PTS5 category between Athens in 2004 (when she was just 16) and Rio in 2016.
The following year, disillusioned with the mundanity of swim training, Cashmore decided to broaden her horizons and give paratri a go. It was a smart decision, her early success in the sport well and truly reinvigorating Cashmore’s mojo.
Since that switch in 2017, she’s been a multiple national champion, three-time European champion and two-time world champion.
In Tokyo in the summer of 2021, Cashmore couldn’t quite collect the full set, with time penalties putting paid to dreams of Paralympic glory. She returned to the UK with a bronze medal in her suitcase, rather than the hoped-for gold.
Three years later and she upgraded that bronze for silver, putting in a magnificent performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
A linguistics graduate and children’s author, the story of Claire Cashmore took on a second volume when she moved to paratri. But she’s not done yet…
How old is Claire Cashmore?
Claire Cashmore was born on 21 May 1988, making her 36 years of age.
Claire Cashmore’s career highlights
July 2017: Early success for the code-switcher
After switching codes from para-swimming, Cashmore takes her first paratri victory at the ITU World Cup race in Altafulla in Catalonia in the PTS5 women category.
A win in the British championship arrives the following month, after which sixth place at the world championships is claimed, a very creditable performance after coming off the bike.
July 2018: A silver at the European champs
At the ETU European Championships in Tartu in Estonia, Cashmore takes silver, beaten only by compatriot and rival Lauren Steadman. Cashmore successfully defends her national title nine days later.
September 2018: Another silver – this time at the worlds
At the paratri world championships on Australia’s Gold Coast, Cashmore has to be content with silver again, as she once more loses out to fellow Englishwoman Steadman.
September 2019: After just two years in the sport, Cashmore is on top of the world
A silver in Yokohama, gold in Montreal and another silver in Tokyo precedes the big one… Cashmore wins the world title in Lausanne, exacting revenge for the defeat of 12 months earlier as she pips reigning champion Steadman to the gold by just three seconds.
March 2021: Wins the first-ever paratri Super League event in London
Cashmore takes victory by just 26secs over Steadman in the Aquatic Centre at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – where Cashmore won two silvers and a bronze at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
August 2021: A medal in Tokyo – but ultimately a sense of disappointment
With the 2020 season written off, the Tokyo Paralympics is postponed for a year. In the lead-up, Cashmore posts a second in Leeds, 1st in Besancon, 2nd in A Coruna and wins the National Champs.
As world champ, Cashmore is arguably the favourite for the gold medal, but a pair of time penalties scupper her chances of overhauling eventual gold medallist Steadman and second-placed Grace Norman of the USA.
Cashmore has to be content with a bronze at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics to add to her collection from her swimming exploits at Paralympics past.
September 2021: Cashmore finally tries on the European crown for size
Less than a month after her disappointment in Tokyo, Cashmore returns to racing with a renewed vigour and becomes European champion in Valencia, her margin of victory over France’s Gwladys Lemoussu being in excess of four minutes.
November 2021: A successful defence of the world title
Cashmore carries this strong form into the world championships in Abu Dhabi where she retains her crown, finishing nearly a minute ahead of the American Norman.
August 2022: Welsh gold
Cashmore wins the PTS5 category at the first-ever UK-based World Triathlon Paratri Series race in Swansea, Wales. A DNF from Norman sees Cashmore cruise to victory.
The Welsh victory follows the defence of her European title in May, two silvers at Besancon and A Coruna World Triathlon Para Cups in June and her fifth consecutive (no race in 2020) National Championship title in July.
November 2022: Silver at the Worlds
Claire can’t match the blistering run pace of Grace Norman, who reverses the standings from 12 months earlier and takes the title.
June 2023: Three times a European champion
Makes it three for three in Europe with a winning time of 1:05:09 over Ukraine’s Alisa Kolpakchy.
A month later, Cashmore wins the Para Cup A Coruna race by over 6mins.
August 2023: Silver on (but not in) the Seine
The Paris Paralympics Test Event is reduced to a duathlon due to water quality concerns. That, plus a penalty for crossing the dismount line, sees Cashmore finish second behind Norman, who also got the better of her in Swansea in July.
September 2023: Silver in Spain
After winning the national title at the end of August she heads to Pontevedra for another shot at reclaiming her title. But again, Norman betters her to the line by over a minute. She ends the year with a win at the Para Cup Alhandra.
May-June 2024: Three from three
It’s a gold streak for Cashmore at her three pre-Paris events in Yokohama, Besançon and Swansea. Notably, though, Norman nor Steadman are on the startline at any of them.
September 2024: Silver lining in Paris
Puts in one of her finest performances to date, but while she has no answer for the speed of Norman she manages to stay ahead of Tokyo champion Steadman for silver.
October 2024: And another silver!
The Norman conquest goes on, with a repeat Paris podium at the Para Champs in Torremolinos.
Two days later Team USA get the better of the Brits once again in the first-ever Para Mixed Relay event.
Claire Cashmore in quotes
On moving from swimming to triathlon: “When I was a swimmer, I felt like a zombie. Mentally it is tough, following a black line [in the pool]. So going into a sport where you can be out on the road and see so many beautiful little towns and villages is amazing.”
On Paralympic paratri bronze after incurring two time penalties in Tokyo: “I was proud that I hung on for bronze, but I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t get to show what shape I was in and be part of the battle. Of course, the medals might not have changed whatsoever…”
On competing at the Paralympics during a pandemic: “Normally you have a bit of time after your race to celebrate. You get to go to the closing ceremony and enjoy all the celebrations, whereas there was none of that this time. Forty-eight hours after your race, you’re on a plane home, like nothing ever happened.”
What’s next for Claire Cashmore?
Chasing medals at the World champs… and no doubt winning one. But which colour will it be?
Nige Tassell
Freelance sportswriter 
