Time to Hit the Thames: T100 London Practice Swim

Jessica Learmonth checks out the exit ramp for tomorrow’s T100 London swim. Photos: Kevin Mackinnon

Long dubbed the world’s biggest city centre triathlon, the London Triathlon had, at one time, over 12,000 competitors. The race was taken over by Challenge a few years ago before the Professional Triathletes Organisation bought the race last year. While the numbers haven’t bounced back to the record-setting days from over a decade ago, things have picked up over the last few years, with a reported 6,000 age group athletes set to compete here at London’s ExCel Centre this weekend.

The swim takes place at Royal Victoria Dock, with the pros completing a two-loop, 2 km course that includes a somewhat long Aussie exit before they dive back into the water for the second loop.

While there had been talk of algae issues forcing the cancellation of the swim, based on testing done at multiple locations along the swim course, “all water quality results have come in well below the thresholds set by World Triathlon.” Barring any changes from the testing being done today, both the pros and the age group competitors will be swimming in the Thames River this weekend. The water temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius, so wetsuits will likely be allowed for all the racers.

Here are a few shots from today’s pro swim Reece:

Reigning 70.3 world champ Jelle Geens

Ellie Salthouse

Kate Waugh

Georgia Taylor-Brown gets ready for her third triathlon of 2025!

Gregory Barnaby won last year’s IRONMAN Pro Series – this year he’s set his sights on the T100 World Tour.

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