Taylor Knibb is a force to be reckoned with, by any measure. In Tokyo in 2021, aged 23, she was the youngest triathlete ever to compete for the USA at an Olympic Games, placing 16th in the individual race and earning a silver medal in the mixed team relay. With her Games duties completed, she departed Japan for Colorado, where, barely a week later, she placed second in the Ironman 70.3 Boulder, her first outing over that distance. The following week, she headed to Montreal to contest a new eliminator format in the World Triathlon Series. In this event, she was again second, beaten only by the Olympic champ, Flora Duffy (BER). The world has come to realize that the tougher the challenge, the more Taylor enjoys it.
This Olympic year is no different, with the NYAC woman having qualified for the Paris Games, not only in triathlon, but also in cycling. To contest two sports at a single Olympics is almost unheard of. She accomplished this feat by placing fifth at the Triathlon Paris Test Event in Paris last August, thus gaining her triathlon slot, then winning the USA Cycling Time Trial National Championship on May 15th of this year, only the second time she had competed in this championship.
Her Paris competitions will be riveting, as she takes on the world in two sports. Adding to her resumé, Taylor is a two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion (2022, 2023). She began competing in triathlons as a child, inspired by her mother’s performances in Ironman races. Fittingly, in 2023, she was recognized as the NYAC’s Athlete of the Year.
Paris Result:
19th place, road cycling time trial (43:03.46).
19th place, women’s individual triathlon (1:58:37).
Silver medal, mixed relay (1:25:40).