SAINTFIELD triathlete Tom Williamson has claimed his second major podium in as many weeks, battling through intense heat and fierce competition to take bronze at the European Para Triathlon Championships in Besançon, France.
The Down Triathlon Club athlete, who represents Ireland on the international stage, delivered a powerful performance in Saturday’s race, matching his third-place finish from last year. The 22-year-old arrived in strong form following a silver medal at the World Series race in Taranto the week before and carried that momentum into the continental showdown. Set against a stunning backdrop in eastern France, the race unfolded on a picturesque but demanding course, winding through rolling countryside and traditional villages.
Athletes had to contend not only with the terrain, but also with extreme weather: temperatures reached 34°C, making for gruelling conditions from start to finish.
“I definitely wanted one thing, and that was to come out on top,” Williamson said after the race. “I was chasing gold. I had a plan to swim and bike with courage, and I was prepared to roll the dice even if it meant missing a medal – to go for the win.”
Williamson put that bold strategy into action from the start, delivering a controlled swim before pushing the pace hard on the 21.8km bike leg, where he clocked one of the fastest splits of the day. His efforts paid off with a time gap heading into the 5km run, but the intense heat levelled the playing field.
“The bike was probably the hardest I’ve had all season. I really pushed and managed to get a gap, but quite frankly, they had better run legs on the day,” the Saintfield native explained.
Victory went to Germany’s Martin Schulz, an 11-time European champion and double world champion, in a time of 1.02.51. Portugal’s Filipe Marques took silver, with Williamson following in for the bronze medal position. Notably, Williamson had outperformed Marques just a week earlier in Italy.
“It was scorching – Irish men aren’t really built for this heat, but everyone suffered out there. It was all about cooling strategies – ice vests, staying out of the sun, sticking ice down your trisuit, and taking water whenever you could.”
It’s been a big fortnight for Tom Williamson – two races, two medals, and a growing sense that something special is building. In only his second year competing internationally, the Down Triathlon Club athlete is showing exactly what commitment and belief can deliver.
Next month, he heads to Montreal for his next race, carrying the quiet momentum of a rising athlete with eyes firmly fixed on the future. “The goal is to cement myself at the top end of the sport heading towards LA 2028,” he said.
