John Reed

While the men’s squad might be the underdogs in the star-studded four-race series, they will certainly possess some swim power with Reed, Chase McQueen and Carter Stuhlmacher all hailing from swimming backgrounds.

Reed was a competitive swimmer throughout high school before meeting  current coach, Wes Johnson, during his freshman year at the University of Utah and switching to triathlon. He currently trains in Park City in the state.

A relatively recent convert, the 21-year-old only started competing in World Triathlon continental cup competition in 2021, but after cutting his tri teeth in North and South American competition in 2022, also ventured further afield to Europe to race in Kitzbuhel and Holten.

Reed finished 11th and second US triathlete at the World University Championships in Brazil in September, before a seventh place in Stockton, Missouri set him up nicely for the world under-23 championships in Abu Dhabi in November.

A ninth place in the Middle East having been at the front of the race throughout was a breakthrough result at that juncture and provided the spur to take into the new season where the performance trajectory has continued to rise.

It’s also been a chance to settle into the nomadic existence of a professional triathlete, as he posted on social media: “I left Tucson, where I started the year, on March 2nd for Mexico, and have been living out of the same suitcase since. About 14 weeks of solo living, training, travelling, and racing. I’d consider it a beautifully challenging experience, one I am very grateful for. Feeling fortunate and blessed to live this life!”

Reed has started to regularly force his way into the top 10 in races and came seventh in La Paz – where McQueen finished third despite treading on a stingray and ending up in a local hospital – runner-up in Sarasota and fifth in Long Beach, California in July.

“I’m very excited to get the exposure of racing the best in the world and to get to dip my toes into some different styles of racing,” Reed says, who when he’s not swimming, cycling and running likes to ski in the winter, hang out in the mountains, and – as is a triathlete’s wont – drink gallons of coffee.