Javier Gomez confirms plan to focus on long distance racing

Pro Spanish triathlete and multiple ITU World Champion Javier Gomez has confirmed his intention to focus on long distance racing after the Olympics.

Speaking to 220 ahead of a winning return to racing in 2021 at Challenge Cancun, Gomez explained how Tokyo has impacted his plans. “If I raced in Rio I don’t know if I would be here. I would probably be focused more on long distance, but you know, I wanted to go to the Olympics once again and prove to myself that I can still do well in short distance.”

• Javier Gomez out of Rio 2016
• “I can still medal in Tokyo,” says Javier Gomez

When asked if this was a permanent switch to long distance, Gomez said: “Yeah, I think so. I don’t know for how many years. I’m still motivated and excited about the future in long distance. It’s something new for me even though I’ve been racing for so long.

“It’s a different type of preparation and I’m excited about that, so probably my career will turn to long distance.”

Long distance racing is nothing new to Gomez. He won his middle distance debut at the ETU European Championships in Barcelona in 2013 and followed that up with a 70.3 world title in both 2014 and 2017.

His first full-distance race soon followed at Ironman Malaysia in 2019. In the same year, he won the ITU’s Long Distance Triathlon World Championship and bagged two more 70.3 victories.

Attention now turns to the Olympics, with Gomez hopeful for qualification and, ultimately, a place on the podium. Beyond that? Well, we’ll have to see, but the Spaniard is already qualified for both the 70.3 World Championship and Kona.

Gomez has been an integral contributor in the development of On’s new Cloudboom Echo elite marathon shoe being released this summer and will be wearing it for the first time during this summer’s Olympic Games. Find out more about the development of the shoe and get insights from elite athletes here.

Photo credit: On

Rob Slade

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Rob Slade is 220 Triathlon's Content Editor. He joined the team in April 2021 and has a background in adventure sports, which he developed during his time as editor of Adventure Travel magazine. Always up for an adventure, he's motivated by good views and regularly uses the scenery as an excuse for taking so long to complete events. While he may lack speed, he always retains his positive disposition, probably because he knows a pint will be waiting for him at the end.