Kingma sets triathlon world alight

Aug 26, 2021 | Athlete Representation

In what has been a breakthrough season, Dutch top-ranked triathlon star Maya Kingma finished 6th at the World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final in Edmonton, Canada to clinch the 4th overall spot on the World Triathlon Championship Series ranking and a bonus of $25,000. This is the best-ever season finish for the MANA Sports and Entertainment managed athlete. Along with her 11th place individual and 4th place mixed relay finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games, this result bodes well for Kingma’s fitness leading into the first race of the 2021-2022 WTCS season in Hamburg in September.

Kingma said: “I’m really happy, although it’s just off the podium. I wanted to make the step to a more consistent athlete and get Top 10 results in my best races. Starting with a 3rd in Yokohama and even winning a WTCS event in Leeds was above my expectations. I learned a lot and am very happy with those experiences! I think I did show I belong in that top 10.”

Maya Kingma wins the AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Championship Series race at Roundhay Park, Leeds, England on 6th June 2021. (credit: World Triathlon)

MANA has also signed Ironman Florida champion Katrina Matthews to the management roster. The British athlete will see action this weekend at the Collins Cup in Samorin, Slovakia. She is racing for Team Europe, having received a Captain’s Pick from Europe captains Natascha Badmann and Normann Stadler to join an already stellar line-up of Ironman champions including world champions Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf.

The Collins Cup is the flagship event of the Professional Triathletes Organisation happening on the 28th of August 2021 in Samorin, Slovakia. Featuring three teams — Team USA, Team Europe, and Team International — of six male and six female athletes each, the teams will compete with each other in 12 head-to-head races matching up three athletes (one athlete from each team) to earn points based on placing and winning margin.

Matthews is currently #9 on the PTO rankings and with her blistering finish at Ironman Florida recorded the third fastest Ironman by a British female. She is gearing up for her maiden appearances at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship next month and the Ironman World Championship in February 2022.

Matthews joined the MANA roster in July to number among some of the sport’s top up-and-coming talent: fellow long-course specialist Magnus Ditlev, paratriathlete and world champion Lauren Parker, and Olympians Kingma and Tyler Mislawchuk. MANA has also signed Norwegian juniors Cedrik Bakke Christophersen and Sebastian Wernersen, who are expected to follow in the footsteps of Olympic and world champion Kristian Blummenfelt and Ironman 70.3 world champion Gustav Iden.

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