In 2012, we witnessed the largest triathlon events in history, and it was also the year when five remarkable male triathletes climbed to the top five spots on the world rankings.

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Javier Gomez (Spain)


His legendary championship career began at the Nautica South Beach Triathlon, followed by winning the European Triathlon title in Eilat (a southern city in Israel). This also earned the Spanish warrior Javier Gomez a place on the list of the most successful triathletes of 2012.

Gomez’s worst historical result to date was finishing third at the ITU (International Triathlon Union) event in Kitzbühel. Although he later secured a win at an international competition held in Auckland, he still finished 90 points short of the overall World Championship title that year.

While it’s hard to pinpoint a single standout highlight in Gomez’s peak moments, consider the quadrennial Olympic Games — Gomez ended the 2012 London Olympics with a silver medal. Finishing second to Britain’s Alistair Brownlee wasn’t too shabby for Gomez, and it helped make up for missing the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Far from weighing him down mentally, the Olympic performance only fueled Gomez’s fighting spirit. He then went on to claim the elite cup title at the famously challenging HY-Vee 5150 U.S. Championships, as well as the XTERRA Maui Trail Run Triathlon in Hawaii. From that moment on, Gomez entered the peak phase of his career, with many speculating when he might take on the next big challenge by competing in long-distance triathlons.

All in all, Gomez earned a nomination as one of the world’s best triathletes in 2012 with an Olympic silver, an ITU Triathlon World Cup silver, and three world championship titles in Hy-Vee, Auckland, and Maui.

Alistair Brownlee (UK)
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In short, Alistair Brownlee’s 2012 experience may have been just a small chapter in his career, but it was certainly a dazzling one.

Winning the triathlon gold medal at the Olympic Games may not be considered the toughest triathlon race out there, but securing a gold medal at a once-every-four-years global extravaganza is an honor that few other sports can rival.

During the London Olympics, Brownlee was the talk of the town, with every exceptional performance becoming a hot topic. Of course, Brownlee also carried significant responsibility on his home soil.

During the final running leg, he moved with lightness and agility, crossing the finish line in 29 minutes and 7 seconds, once again proving why he’s regarded as the best in short-distance triathlons.

Brownlee wasn’t content with just the gold medal at the London Olympics. Prior to the Games, he also achieved a resounding victory in Eilat (a southern city in Israel), marking another highlight of his 2012 season.

However, Brownlee’s loss at the HY-VEE 5150 U.S. Elite Cup may not have been a bad thing. It proved he’s human, just an ordinary sports enthusiast. Some may not agree with this view, but at least he had previously claimed the title in this event, which is already an achievement in itself. And because of this, he also secured a spot among the top 5 triathletes of 2012.

Jordan Rapp (USA)
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Jordan Rapp had an outstanding performance in 2012. This included winning the Texas Triathlon in the U.S. with a time of 2:46, the New York Pro Triathlon Championship, and the Leadman 250 Triathlon title (note: Leadman 250 is one of the most classic triathlon events, consisting of a 5 km swim, 223 km bike ride, and 22 km run).

These three events are world-renowned. Rapp claimed the titles in all three major races, proving that his accolades are certainly well-deserved.

Often referred to as the “metronome” of triathlon, Rapp unexpectedly finished 13th at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. This provided him with valuable experience and helped him better prepare for even more grueling competitions in the future.

All three of these triathlon events took place in 2012. Rapp is one of the few male triathletes who managed to win titles in all three major events in a single year. He also completed the races in New York and Texas with times under 8:15.

Pete Jacobs (Australia)
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Pete Jacobs’s 2012 season could be described as a rollercoaster. Early in the season, the Australian athlete was plagued by injuries. Missing the 3rd annual Asia Pacific Ironman Championship in Melbourne was indeed a disappointment for Pete. However, this warrior from Sydney’s northern beaches had greater ambitions — to win the prestigious Ironman World Championship in Hawaii every October. Through this season’s trials, Pete Jacobs also saw a leap in his capabilities.

After completing the 2012 Lake Placid Ironman qualifier, Jacobs went on to win several other major and minor events, including the 5i50 Coral Coast Triathlon, the 70.3 Cairns Triathlon, and the 70.3 Philippines event.

In terms of results, ranking fourth in swimming speed (51:28), fourth in fastest bike split (4:35:15), and third in marathon time (2:48:05), Pete Jacobs is considered one of Australia’s four most promising athletes capable of winning the Ironman World Championship.


Sebastian Kienle (Germany)
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German athlete Sebastian Kienle had an extraordinary 2012 season, drawing motivation from his win at the 70.3 Ironman World Championship.

Notably, although he finished second at the Texas 70.3 Triathlon, Kienle overtook the fan-favorite Lance Armstrong during the cycling stage. But the most pivotal moment of Kienle’s season came at the 70.3 Ironman World Championship in Las Vegas.

During the race, Kienle lost some time coming out of the water and fell behind during the cycling leg. However, he made an astonishing comeback, surpassing the then-fastest competitor Craig Alexander and breaking the event record.

But these accomplishments weren’t the pinnacle of Kienle’s career. At the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, media speculation based on his Vegas performance suggested he wouldn’t deliver much. Yet the 28-year-old German athlete Kienle proved himself to be a formidable contender with his remarkable performance.

On the day of the race, Kienle’s starting position wasn’t much different from his performance in the Vegas event, but during the bike leg after the swim, he quickly took the lead. Right at that moment, tragedy struck — not long after taking the lead, Kienle unfortunately suffered a flat tire. This unexpected mishap cost the German athlete precious time. Although he calmly and swiftly changed the tire and got back into the race, as a first-time competitor in the Kona Ironman, he still finished in second place, just behind the champion.

If you’re looking for a strong contender capable of preventing an Australian athlete from winning in Kona, then Sebastian Kienle is that person. During the 2013 season, he also became one of the most closely watched athletes.