Canada’s Top 5 Triathletes for May
It’s that time of year when the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Toronto Maple Leafs are all polishing their short game, while the Montreal Canadiens are still smarting from a beatdown courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes.
While most of us are still wondering if Sylvan Lake is finally warm enough for a wetsuit dip, our top racers are already firing on all cylinders around the world.
And it’s not just the usual suspects you’ll notice here. Our Top 5 list pulls from all distances of triathlon, and for good reason: our short-course racers are killing it on the world stage. These folks aren’t easing into spring; they’re already rolling hard and putting their stamp on the season before the ice even comes off Waskesiu.
1. Charles Paquet
Charles Paquet has emerged as one of Canada’s biggest triathlon success stories of 2026. The 29-year-old from Sept-Îles, Quebec delivered the breakthrough performance of his career this spring with a bronze medal at WTCS Samarkand, becoming just the second Canadian man ever to reach a World Triathlon Championship Series podium.
Paquet has continued to build momentum with a recent fifth-place finish at the WTCS event in Alghero. Known for his gritty run finishes and aggressive racing style, he has quickly become one of the key faces of Canadian short-course triathlon in 2026.
2. Sophia Howell
Sophia Howell has continued her steady rise through 2026, building on a breakthrough 2025 season that included her first World Triathlon Cup podium with bronze in San Pedro de la Paz.
The 23-year-old from Airdrie, Alberta, has shown consistent form on the international circuit this year, highlighted by a strong contribution to Canada’s bronze-medal performance in the mixed relay in Chengdu, China, alongside Tyler Mislawchuk, Charles Paquet, and Martin Sobey.
Known for her steady, composed racing across draft-legal formats, she continues to establish herself as a key part of Canada’s developing elite women’s program.
3. Brock Hoel
Brock Hoel continues to establish himself as one of Canada’s most promising emerging long-course triathletes in 2026, highlighted by a strong performance at Ironman Texas, where he finished fifth in 7:29:56 against a deep international field.
The Prince George-born, West Kelowna-based athlete has transitioned steadily from a successful short-course and World Triathlon development background into Ironman racing, carrying the speed and race craft developed through Canada’s national pathway into the full-distance ranks.
A former Canadian junior standout and Olympic pathway athlete, Hoel was long considered part of the country’s elite development system before shifting his focus toward long-course racing. His Texas result, including a 2:39 marathon off the bike, marked a significant step forward and signalled his potential as a future contender on the North American Ironman circuit.
4. Tamara Jewett
Tamara Jewett was on our Top 5 list of Canadian triathletes in 2025, and it looks like she is well on her way to returning.
Jewett has continued to establish herself as one of Canada’s premier long-course triathletes in 2026 with a strong and consistent early-season campaign on the international circuit. The Toronto-born, Victoria-based athlete opened her year with a victory at Challenge Wanaka Half in New Zealand before following it up with a fourth-place finish at Ironman New Zealand and a podium performance at Ironman 70.3 Geelong against a stacked professional field.
Known as one of the fastest runners in professional triathlon, Jewett has also maintained a strong presence within the endurance sports community through her thoughtful training insights and growing social media profile. Her combination of elite performances, consistency, and relatability has made her one of the most influential Canadian triathletes of 2026 so far.
5. Tyler Mislawchuk
Tyler Mislawchuk reminded Canadian triathlon fans this spring that he remains one of the country’s most accomplished and relevant athletes.
The Manitoba native opened his 2026 campaign with a bronze medal at the World Triathlon Cup in Chengdu before helping Canada capture bronze in the mixed relay the following day. He followed that up with a solid showing at WTCS Alghero this past weekend.
A three-time Olympian, one of the most recognizable personalities in Canadian triathlon, and a guy who is not afraid to dabble in long-course racing, Mislawchuk combines elite-level results with a strong social media presence and remains a key figure on Canada’s international triathlon scene.
