Athletes gathered on Thursday ahead of the season opener of the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi to talk about their race preparation, Roads to Rio, and their excitement to start the season.

Katie Zaferes (USA)
“Training has been going really well and am excited because I have a team full of international athletes, like Richard and Mario. It’s been awesome to train with some of the best in the world and check out my competition. Here is where I get to see where all the hard effort over the season translates in a real scenario and no better place than Abu Dhabi.” 

Flora Duffy (BER)
“The last few months I have spent it in Stellenbosch training, things have been going really well there it’s such a beautiful place to train. Obviously because I raced very well last year my Olympic qualification is pretty secure that’s allowed me a slower build-up. I really am excited to race here on Saturday.”

Mario Mola (ESP)

“It all started here. Things are going well. You can train but then you want to see things happen, and so far I am very happy with where I am at and my performance. I like people to expect great things from me because it means I am doing well. We will see how things roll into the Olympics but I am looking forward to have a great day out there on Saturday.” 

Richard Murray (RSA)
“Last year was a great first adventure, this year its familiar and I am excited to come here and race again. It’s been a great lead up to the season so far and it’s great to see where the form is at and how it translates on the field.”

Marisol Casado, ITU President
“Thank you to the Abu Dhabi Sport Council for hosting us this weekend. This is the start of the Road to Rio this year. We work with coaches and athletes to work to create a program that will work to fit inside athletes training plans for the Olympics and Abu Dhabi is the start of that this year.”