Swim leg of Noosa triathlon cancelled after multiple shark sightings
It is the first time the 1500-metre swim leg has been cancelled in the event’s 43-year history.
Shark sightings prompted the cancellation of the swim leg at the Noosa Triathlon, the world's largest Olympic distance triathlon, which attracts 8,500 athletes and 20,000 spectators each year. The event, held on Saturday at Noosa Main Beach, was temporarily halted after sharks were spotted offshore. Organisers then reduced the swimming distance to about 1 kilometer to keep participants in shallow waters.
However, early Sunday morning, just before the race commenced, the swim leg was completely scrapped. Surf lifesavers, responsible for monitoring the event, refused to enter the water after a sighting at dawn. The Noosa Triathlon team stated that they could not deploy water safety personnel due to the presence of marine life. Consequently, the swim was cancelled, and the event transformed into a duathlon.
Matt Hauser emerged victorious, completing the race in 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 34 seconds after organizers substituted a 5km run for the swim. Competitors then proceeded to cycle 40km and run 10km for the remaining legs of the race.
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