Triathlon Trust launches new pilot to support emerging talent

The Triathlon Trust has launched a new pilot scheme that will provide targeted financial support to talented triathletes and para triathletes with genuine podium potential.

Pathway to Podium will run as a pilot in 2026, starting with a small first cohort of athletes, as the Trust tests how best to remove financial barriers and help them go further, faster.

For many promising athletes, talent and commitment are not the only things that determine how far they can go. The cost of coaching, equipment, travel, competition entries and specialist support can all become significant barriers to progress. Pathway to Podium has been created to address that challenge for athletes within the British Triathlon and Home Nation performance pathways.

In this pilot year the scheme will provide a total budget of £20,000, with grants of up to £5,000 per athlete. Support will be focused on triathletes aged 14 to 30 and para triathletes aged 14 to 35 who are already part of recognised academy, development or performance programmes and who face genuine financial constraints.

Nominations will be made by programme coaches, not by athletes directly. All applications will be reviewed by an independent panel using a clear scoring rubric that looks at podium potential, clarity of goals, financial need and the likely impact of the investment. Grants will be paid from the Triathlon Trust to the relevant programme budget to ensure they are managed appropriately and used for performance related costs that benefit the nominated athlete.

Steve Rice, Interim Chair of the Triathlon Trust, said: “The Trust exists to change lives through swim, bike and run. That begins with giving more young people the chance to take part, but it also means helping those with genuine podium potential to overcome the financial barriers that can hold them back.

Pathway to Podium is a focused pilot that will start small, learn what works and build the evidence we need to scale the scheme in future years. We are looking forward to working closely with coaches and performance staff to ensure this support makes a real difference.”

The pilot launched to academy, development and performance coaches in March 2026, with the first Pathway to Podium awards set to be announced in May 2026. The Trust will work with coaches and athletes throughout the year to understand the impact of the scheme and use those insights to shape plans for future years.

As the pilot develops, the Trust will share stories and updates from the first cohort of athletes, highlighting how targeted support can help them unlock key opportunities in their performance journey.