On October 27, 2024, the Second Water’s Edge Triathlon Open took place in Qian’an, Hebei Province, drawing nearly 300 athletes eager to showcase their skills. Among them were Olympic weightlifting champion Zhang Xiangxiang and Olympic diving champion Wang Han, who led the competitors through a challenging 40-kilometer course.
In the men’s individual all-around competition for the 36-49 age group, Hou Yongbin from Harbin claimed victory with a time of 1 hour and 48 minutes. Meanwhile, Qin Zhuohua from Guangxi won the women’s individual all-around title for the 50-70 age group, finishing in 2 hours and 15 seconds.
This year’s event expanded its offerings to cater to fitness enthusiasts and families, featuring new categories such as running and cycling as well as a water-land segment that combined paddleboarding and running, which attracted athletes from across the country.
Zhang Jian, Vice President of the Chinese Triathlon Association, commented on the importance of integrating local culture and industry into the innovative triathlon format to create a unique regional event. He emphasized that amidst the broader context of coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the integration of sports into community development is a growing trend. With its rich sports resources, Qian’an is enhancing its event offerings to engage sports enthusiasts from the Beijing-Tianjin region and play a crucial role in the relocation of non-capital functions.
