The 2025 World Triathlon Championship Series Weihai kick off in Weihai, East China's Shandong province, welcoming 116 athletes worldwide. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2025 World Triathlon Championship Series Weihai kicked off in Weihai, East China's Shandong province on Sept 26. The event is an Olympic qualifying event and a top-tier international competition. The 116 athletes competing represented 25 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Japan, and Australia.

Women's group race. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The competition features men's and women's elite categories, with athletes tackling a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-km bike ride, and a 10-km run, covering a total distance of 51.5 km.

Weihai has been hosting high-level triathlon events for 15 consecutive years, making it the longest-running city in China for such competitions.

Pete de Wet, executive board director for the World Triathlon, said Weihai is a crucial node in the global triathlon landscape. With its suitable climate, high-quality waters, and varied terrain, the city's course has been rated as one of the most beautiful and challenging in the world.

On Sept 27, the 2025 Weihai super triathlon series took place at the same venue. This event included multiple categories such as super triathlon, relay, half, experience, and swim-run, with four race distances and 41 age groups, with a total of 822 athletes from 13 countries and regions participating.

Athletes celebrate at the podium. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]