On, Canyon, and Sailfish Team Up for Tri Development Squad
Swiss brand On has partnered with two other large stakeholders in the triathlon industry to launch the On Triathlon Academy, which On claims is a “pioneering initiative to nurture and empower the next generation of triathlon champions.”
The other two brands embedded in the program are Canyon and Sailfish. Sailfish will provide “premium wetsuits and swimwear” for program participants. Canyon will supply athletes the Aeroad race bike. On, meanwhile, will be responsible for footwear, apparel, as well as providing access to its existing athlete support services, like the On Athlete Compass. That program, developed in collaboration with Nicola Spirig, sees athletes receive resources and education in a holistic manner.
As you can probably guess based on the equipment provided, the On Triathlon Academy is focused on short-course athlete development, with an eye on athletes with the potential to reach the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, CA.
On said in a statement that, “Recognizing the challenges faced by young triathletes – including the financial burden of the sport, the pressures of international competition, and the long-term commitment required to reach the top – the On Triathlon Academy aims to remove these barriers and provide a holistic approach to athlete development that encompasses physical training, technical skills, and personal growth.”
The initial launch of the Academy will see four athletes join the program. They are:
- Aspen Anderson (AUS): Winner, 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games
- Jimena De La Peña (USA): Second at 2023 Junior World Championships
- Mathis Beaulieu (CAN): Third at 2023 Junior World Championships
- Canyu Liu (CHN): Winner, 2024 Asia Triathlon U15 and Youth Championships in Hong Kong
Co-Founder of On Olivier Bernhard said, “As a former professional triathlete, I know first-hand the challenges young athletes face on their journey to the top.
“With the On Triathlon Academy, we’re not just providing gear and funding; we’re creating a supportive community where these athletes can develop their skills and achieve their dreams without unnecessary pressure. This is about investing in the future of triathlon and empowering the next generation of champions.”
Although On is relatively new to triathlon squads, Canyon is not. They were a major sponsor with the Zwift Academy Triathlon development pathway, as well as have years of deep investment in individual athletes. CEO Nicolas de Ros Wallace said in a statement, “We have a long-standing commitment to helping triathletes achieve remarkable results. By powering On’s Triathlon Academy, we’re building on that legacy to support these four talented young athletes on their journey to representing their countries at the 2028 Olympics.”
Photos: On
Tags:
CanyonOlympicsOn RunningSailfishYouth and Junior DevelopmentNotable Replies
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It’s great that the 4 athletes are all from developing nations .
LOL, yeah, on the surface looks more like an opportunity for those brands to associate themselves with some already very successful juniors/U23s (Aspen, Mathys, Jimena) that are already recognised as the future of triathlon, rather than a development programme. A dev programme would have more than 4 athletes too.
4 isn’t much, I hope there’re more to come…
Basically, the That Triathlon Life’s development team has more athletes, and they’re funding it through their apparel sales
But I have no problem that big brands provide sponsorship and want something in exchange. Overall, this announcement is a good sign that the triathlon market isn’t complete stale nor decreasing.
aspen has AIS on her suit so while one can say the Australians have not done so well in developing triathletes lately that is a solid support and a few levels above that the athletes from real developing countries receive that have real financial struggles and next to no structures.
anyway the athletes are pretty good choices its just the way they are trying to sell the team is bs as it is unlikely any of those atheltes has financial hardships.
agreed.