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Paul McNamara

Hong Kong triathlon has started to enjoy “huge” legacy benefits from hosting last year’s National Games races, although head coach Andrew Wright cautioned that “we are only scratching the surface” of the sport’s potential.
The city team claimed two medals, bronze for Oscar Coggins in the men’s individual race and silver in the mixed relay, over two days of high-level, compelling racing on Central Harbourfront last November.
Ahead of the Games, Wright had urged government and triathlon officials to seize their once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow a traditionally niche sport.
His long-standing wish for triathlon and aquathlon to be introduced into School Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China [HKSSF] competitions has been granted, while this month’s International School Sports Federation aquathlon drew more than 200 competitors, a significant increase on the roughly 100 who raced last year.
“This will be huge in terms of development, and it’s a very promising start … but we’re only scratching the surface,” Wright said.
He predicted it would take between eight and 12 years for aquathlon and triathlon’s addition to the HKSSF programme to be reflected at international level.
“It should have been on there decades ago, but we have to start somewhere,” Wright said.
“When it becomes important to schools, it becomes important to parents; they look for training opportunities for their children, which develops clubs and coaches, and increases the talent coming through.”

Also keen to establish a coherent talent transfer programme, in the image of the relatively new mainland China strategy of recruiting “second-tier” swimmers for triathlon, Wright said he was optimistic that the recent Games medals would pique the interest of athletes from elsewhere.
“We are seeing more good youth swimmers at local races, [talent transfer] just all needs to be moved on a hell of a lot quicker,” Wright said.
He ruled out any attempt to persuade four-time Olympic medallist swimmer Siobhan Haughey to swap the pool for triathlon.
“Top-level, short-distance swimmers are not often that good at endurance sports,” Wright said. “There is an amazing track record in other countries of long-distance runners and 1,500m swimmers moving over to triathlon and doing very well.
“Siobhan is a phenomenal athlete, and I hope we see her winning more medals in LA [2028 Olympics].”
Back in 2024, a preoccupied Wright returned home after two days of a Bali holiday to resume work. Following the National Games, he had a short break on the same island and “was able to relax for the first time since I took this job five years ago”.

“It’s not a good example to set for people but that’s the way it’s been for me,” he said. “There’s a bit of breathing room when you feel you’ve earned it.”
Nonetheless, Wright said the Games cycle had “shown us we’re behind”. “In the 16-to-20 weeks leading into the competition, our training volume was the most consistent we’ve had ... but that’s what everyone needs to be doing all year, not just before a major Games,” he said.
The city squad will begin their season at an Asia Triathlon Cup in Malaysia on February 7, although Robin Elg and Jason Ng Tai-long will both miss out because of running-related niggles.
World Triathlon Cup events in Hainan and Chengdu, in March and May, will follow, although Wright is yet to identify which races will count towards selection for September’s Asian Games.
Coggins, meanwhile, followed his first major Games medal with his “best off-season”, according to Wright.
A Tokyo Olympian in 2021, Coggins spent only five days visiting family in the UK over Christmas, directly after “a big training block”.
“His National Games performance, and the team’s overall, filled everybody with self-belief,” Wright said. “We have a lot of momentum going into this season.”


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Hong Kong

Sport introduced to school programmes and competitor numbers increase, but head coach Andrew Wright issues note of caution


Sport introduced to school programmes and competitor numbers increase, but head coach Andrew Wright issues note of caution.


Siobhan Haughey

Andrew Wright

Oscar Coggins

Hong Kong triathlon seeing National Games legacy benefits, rules out Siobhan Haughey move

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sport introduced to school programmes and competitor numbers increase, but head coach Andrew Wright issues note of caution

Sport introduced to school programmes and competitor numbers increase, but head coach Andrew Wright issues note of caution