Bermuda’s Erica Hawley delivered a late surge to finish 18th in a high-caliber 51-woman field at the 2026 World Triathlon Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
The race marked an emotional return to Copacabana Beach, ten years after Hawley’s compatriot Dame Flora Duffy famously finished eighth on the iconic Brazilian sand during the 2016 Olympic Games.
Hawley produced a calculated performance to cross the line in 59 minutes and 32 seconds, mounting a superb second-half comeback after a demanding opening leg in the surf.
Hawley faced early work after emerging from the 750-metre open-water swim in 34th position with a time of 11:06.
However, the Bermudian Olympian quickly found her rhythm on the bike course, posting a cycle split of 30:54 to reel in the pack before launching a furious assault on the final discipline.
Unleashing the 12th fastest 5km run split of the day in 16:33, Hawley carved through the field to seal an impressive top-20 finish on one of triathlon’s most storied stages.
