Triathlon: Morgan Pearson, Taylor Knibb Qualify For Paris Olympics
As the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games builds, some athletes have already qualified for the games.
U.S. triathlete Morgan Pearson joined that group on Friday.
The World Triathlon Olympic Games Test Event Paris took place on Friday, Aug. 18, on the beautiful course that sends athletes past the Pont Alexandre III bridge, Grand Palais and Champs-Elysées, a preview of what the course will look like next year.
The event was the first of three Olympic Games Paris 2024 auto-qualification opportunities for U.S. triathletes.
Pearson placed sixth (1:41:23) to lead the U.S. men and earn an auto-qualification spot to the Paris 2024 Games. A Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Pearson has qualified for his second Olympic Games. He joins Taylor Knibb, who qualified on Thursday, as the first two U.S. elite triathletes to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. This past day has been a whirlwind. I wasn’t on the start list until 14 hours before the race,” Pearson told USA Triathlon. “I wasn’t even thinking about qualification that much until those last two laps (on the run). This means a lot to me, but maybe it means more to my family because they can come to this one (Olympic Games).”
According to USA Triathlon, Olympic Team selections are subject to the U.S. earning its predicted two to three country slots per gender at the conclusion of the World Triathlon Olympic Qualification Period in 2024. In addition, all Olympic Team nominations are pending final approval by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Pearson finished the 1500-meter swim among the second group out of the water and kept the pace throughout the race.
All remaining available Olympic slots will be selected via discretion by the USA Triathlon Games Athletes Selection Committee.