Women making mark in triathlon

 A UNIQUE group of women in PNG in particularly Port Moresby are taking endurance sports and multisport events to another level, debunking the stereotype norm that triathlon event is synonymous with strong men. 

Think again, PNG Triathlon’s first president was a woman,  Joyce Grant, and its current president is a woman, Annette Coppola (third since the federation’s inception).

PNG women made their first appearance on the international scene with Rachel Sapery James at the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia. 

Last year in the second Pacific Islands Triathlon & Cycling Championship in Suva, Fiji,  PNG made its mark on the Pacific circuit with Susie Shaun Pini winning her first representative event with Rachel taking third place.

This year, both women will be competing in the ITU’s (International Triathlon Union) World Triathlon Championship in London from Sept 11-15 – the first time PNG is competing at this level. 

Coppola will also be competing in the age category.

The participation of these women at this international level is also reflective in growing interest in female participation in local events in PNG. 

The numbers of women competing in triathlon and cycling events is greater than our male counterparts.

The Pacific Island Triathlon & Cycling Championship next month will showcase some of our best regional female multisport athletes from Guam, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea.