What are Team USA’s chances in the Paris 2024 Olympic triathlon?
While they're not short of an Olympic medal or two, Team USA currently sit fourth in the all-time medal table for triathlon. So what are their chances in Paris and who could top up their tally? Let's find out…
The USA are used to topping Summer Olympic Games’ medal tables, but in the all-time medal table for triathlon at the Games, they currently have to settle for joint fourth alongside New Zealand.
Gwen Jorgensen (Rio 2016) is responsible for winning their solitary gold and they also have a silver from the inaugural mixed team relay (Tokyo 2021) and two bronzes from Susan Williams (Athens 2004) and Katie Zaferes (Tokyo 2021).
As a five-strong team heads for Paris in July, optimism is high that they can add to that return, but what are the chances? Let’s break it down event by event.
Men’s individual triathlon – 30 July
Morgan Pearson
All hopes are pinned on Morgan Pearson in the men’s race. Based in Boulder, it tends to be boom or bust for the 30-year-old, who is regarded as one of the fastest runners in the sport and has a fresh half-marathon best of 61:47mins.
Pearson burst into the elite spotlight with a third place in Yokohama WTCS in 2021 that clinched his Olympic spot and then finished runner-up in Leeds the following month.
But he blew out to 42nd place at the Games in the individual race before anchoring the USA to mixed team relay silver.
Heading into Paris results have been similarly topsy-turvy. After a horrible early summer last year hampered by a back injury, he rolled on to the start-list on the eve of the test event and defied expectations to finish sixth and secure an automatic qualification spot.
This year’s racing started well with an early-season victory in Miami and then first WTCS win in Yokohama, before fading to 40th in Cagliari.
Seth Rider
A definite medal threat if on form, Pearson should also have the support of Seth Rider, who was selected above the higher ranked Matt McElroy as the US missed out on securing three men’s starting spots.
Rider was primarily picked for his relay credentials, but without showing the potential to win an individual medal in his own right, is likely to be tasked with working for Pearson on the 40km bike leg.
Women’s individual triathlon – 31 July
Taylor Knibb
The trio of Taylor Knibb, Taylor Spivey and Kirsten Kasper will represent the USA in the women’s individual race, which takes place on the morning after the men’s competition.
Knibb is seen as the strongest US medal prospect and the only female member of the team to hit the federation’s qualifying criteria, thanks to a fifth place at the Paris test event.
The 26-year-old’s form is strong, with a second place finish at Yokohama WTCS in May showing she is a definite medal contender. Knibb has also won an Ironman 70.3 race and T100 World Tour race in 2024 showing both her versatility and race-defining power on the bike.
On a flat course that doesn’t suit her strengths as arguably the most powerful cyclist in the field, it’s likely her chances will come down to how much she can sharpen her 10km run to compete with the world’s best.
Another Boulder-based endurance athlete, she also has split priorities and, as part of a packed schedule, and having won the US time-trial title, she’ll line up for the individual TT on 27 July.
She has since confirmed that she won’t be starting the road race on 4 August, which takes place the afternoon before the triathlon mixed team relay.
Taylor Spivey
After heartache ahead of Tokyo where she was overlooked in favour of Zaferes, Spivey clinched a discretionary spot after a fourth-place finish in Yokohama in May, a result which underlined her potential as an outside medal chance.
The 33-year-old struggled with injury towards the end of 2023, but still managed two WTCS podiums.
Kirsten Kasper
Kasper was a surprise pick ahead of Jorgensen and Zaferes for the final women’s spot. Fifth place in Yokohama swayed the decision in her favour, but it was the highest-place WTCS finish since the 2018 Grand Final in Gold Coast and it has been more than seven years since she last stepped onto an individual WTCS podium.
Mixed Team Relay – 5 August
Silver medal winners in Tokyo, the US have another realistic shot at the podium in Paris and will start as one of the most fancied nations after the hosts France and reigning Olympic champions, Great Britain.
They can benefit from the experience of Japan three years ago, with Knibb and Pearson returning from the quartet that split GB and France on the rostrum.
Spivey, Rider and Kasper were also part of the team that won the relay world title in Montreal in 2021, so whatever combination of women join Pearson and Rider, they will be well equipped.
They won’t be without challengers though. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand will also believe they have medal chances, and with some nations choosing to prioritise the relay over individual competition, it remains to be seen whether keeping triathletes fresh for the team event will pay dividends and shake up the results.
Tim Heming
Freelance triathlon journalist 
