The 2026 Annual General Assembly of Europe Triathlon was successfully held in Bucharest, Romania, bringing together representatives from National Federations across the continent for an important moment of discussion, decision-making, and celebration of the sport’s continued development.
The event was hosted with the valued support of the Romanian Triathlon Federation, whose contribution helped create an excellent environment for collaboration and exchange among Europe’s triathlon leaders.
The Assembly itself was conducted smoothly, with all agenda points approved unanimously by the member federations, demonstrating strong unity and alignment within the European triathlon community.
"The unanimous approval of the agenda reflects the strong unity and shared vision that exists within the European triathlon community," said ETU President Marc D'hooge. "It shows that our National Federations are aligned in their commitment to continue developing the sport and strengthening our community across Europe."
Committee Elections
Several committee positions were confirmed during the Assembly. For the Women’s Committee, Fred Arthur Asdal and Onno van der Erve were elected, bringing their experience and dedication to advancing gender equality and representation within the sport.
Meanwhile, Claudia Demarta-Gatsi was elected to the Development Committee, where she will contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening the development of triathlon across Europe.
Strategic Updates for the Sport
An informative session was led by Antonio F. Arimany and Jon Wyatt, with the participation of Richard Belderok, COO of Challenge Family.
The session provided valuable insights into several key topics shaping the future of the sport, including:
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The future development of the World Triathlon Tour
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The recent acquisition of Challenge Family by the Professional Triathletes Organisation
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New developments regarding the integration of emerging disciplines such as swim-run and hyathlon
These discussions provided National Federations and organisers with a clearer perspective on the evolving global triathlon landscape.
New Partners Supporting Europe Triathlon
The meeting concluded with presentations from new Europe Triathlon partners, including deboer, Dare2Tri, and Sport Import BV, who introduced the services they can offer to Local Organising Committees (LOCs) and National Federations (NFs).
These collaborations aim to strengthen the organisation of events across the continent and support the continued growth of triathlon within Europe.
A Memorable Europe Triathlon Gala
The day concluded with the Europe Triathlon Gala, which proved to be a fantastic evening bringing together members of the triathlon community from across Europe.
The Gala provided an opportunity for athletes, officials, organisers, and federation representatives to celebrate the achievements of the sport, share experiences, and strengthen the strong connections that unite the European triathlon family.
A highlight of the evening was the annual awards ceremony, recognising outstanding performances and contributions across the sport.
Among the National Federation awards, Romania was named Developing National Federation of the Year, while Spainreceived the prestigious National Federation of the Year award. Poland was honoured as Rising National Federation of the Year, underlining its continued progress within the sport.
In the technical officials’ categories, Anabela Santos (POR) was awarded Female Technical Delegate of the Year, while Fritz Schwartz (AUT) received the Male Technical Delegate of the Year award.
The Local Organising Committee of the Year award was presented to the organisers of the Europe Triathlon Championships Istanbul (TUR), recognising their outstanding delivery of the event.
Athlete performances were also celebrated, with Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) named Female European Triathlete of the Yearand Max Studer (SUI) awarded Male European Triathlete of the Year.
In the paratriathlon categories, Camille Seneclauze (FRA) received the Female Paratriathlete of the Year award, while Henry Urand (GBR) was named Male Paratriathlete of the Year.
The evening also included a special recognition, with former ETU President Renato Bertrandi (ITA) receiving the Executive Board Award for his outstanding contribution to the sport.
Earlier in the evening, the achievements of National Federations in the Junior Ranking were also recognised, with the top-performing and developing federations celebrated for their commitment to youth development across Europe.
Held in a warm and festive atmosphere, the evening offered a memorable moment for everyone present to celebrate the continued growth and success of triathlon in Europe.
With the Annual General Assembly successfully concluded, the focus now turns to the upcoming racing season across the continent. As athletes, organisers, and federations prepare for another exciting year of competition, the European triathlon community looks forward to the start of racing and to another season of thrilling performances and unforgettable events. The leaders of European Federations will meet again at Tarragona in June for the Presidents‘ Conference.