Zwift has today announced the six members of the Zwift Academy Tri Team 2021. Over 134,000 people signed up for the most recent Zwift Academy. All those that completed the program’s 10 workouts and two bike and run races, graduated with a chance to make the final team selection process.
‘The final six members were selected based on their Zwift Academy performance, past race results and personality.’ These six athletes from around the world make up this year’s team Zwift Academy Tri Team as they prepare for the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawai’i.
Originating from four different continents, the Zwift Academy Tri Team for 2021 is:
- Eric Engel, USA – a digital marketer in Wisconsin who has been hooked on triathlon since university.
- Kristen Yax, USA – Kristen comes from Oregon where she is a psychology professor.
- Rebecca Duxbury, UK – a former competitive hockey player, Rebecca calls Oxfordshire home and is a full-time pharmacist.
- Lukas Bosmans, Belgium – Lukas is a police detective, loves running and has won several beer miles.
- Kangsub Song, South Korea – Kangsub is a computer programmer and network engineer. He is a committed Zwifter with level 50 on the bike and level 21 on the treadmill.
- Vanessa Murray, Australia – Vanessa is from New Zealand but calls Melbourne home and spends her time coaching new triathletes.
The team will benefit from support from some of the sport’s best-known brands as they build towards the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona.
Specialized will be supplying the team with bikes, race kits, shoes, helmets, and ‘money-can’t-buy performance experiences’. Wahoo is providing the full Wahoo ecosystem. WHOOP joins as the team’s performance and recovery partner.
Each team member will be receiving eyewear and swim apparel from ROKA; with Science in Sport providing the team’s sport nutrition and consultations. Returning as Zwift Academy Tri team mentors and ensuring the team get invaluable guidance are pro athletes Tim Don and Sarah True.
Fans can follow the highs and lows of the Zwift Academy Tri team’s journey as the team balance working, being parents and the other challenges life throws at them while being an amateur athlete.
2021 will hopefully see races start to come back, with some of the team lining up for a race for the first time in over a year. Keeping up the momentum of training in a year without competition has been challenging.
Some of team have already qualified for Kona and will need to find their form. Others are yet to qualify and will be looking to secure a slot in a year where the calendar is anything from certain.
