Sharks forced the Garmin Noosa Triathlon to cancel its swim leg on Sunday, November 1, 2026 — the first time the swim has been scrapped since the race began in 1983. Drones spotted multiple sharks about 600m offshore early in the morning, prompting the call.
Noosa Main Beach had already been temporarily closed on Saturday after shark sightings. Organisers first shortened the swim to about 1km, then abandoned it entirely on Sunday morning. The elite race became a duathlon: a 5km run on Hastings Street, a 40km bike leg and a 10km run. The Noosa Triathlon is the world’s largest Olympic-distance triathlon, drawing around 8,500 athletes and 20,000 spectators.
Paris Olympian Matt Hauser defended his men’s title in 1:39:34, becoming the first man to win back-to-back Noosa titles since Aaron Royle in 2013/14. He finished 3:25 ahead of fellow Paris Olympian Luke Willian (1:42:59), with John Reed third (1:43:53) — and the entire men’s top five were Australian. Hauser is last year’s world champion, won the 2026 WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra, finished second in the 2026 world standings, and is targeting Australia’s first men’s triathlon medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The women’s race belonged to Paris Olympian Natalie Van Coevorden, whose 1:58:11 delivered her maiden Noosa title — pulling clear of Richelle Hill (1:58:26, 15s back) in the closing kilometres, with Milan Agnew third in 2:00:26. Van Coevorden has dominated IRONMAN 70.3 racing this year with four wins, including Port Macquarie a fortnight ago, and had stood on the Noosa podium in 2018 (second) and 2024 (third). Eleven-time champion Ash Gentle watched from the crowd with her newborn baby.
An unprecedented cancellation, a back-to-back champion and a maiden women’s crown: the Noosa Triathlon sharks swim cancelled became one of the most memorable editions in the race’s 43-year history.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.