SAMARKAND — Canada’s Charles Paquet captured a bronze medal Saturday at a World Triathlon Championship Series competition Saturday.

The 29-year-old finished the event in one hour 43 minutes 41 seconds. Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca finished first in 1:43:33 with German Henry Graf taking second (1:43:37).

All three competitors were locked in a battle until the closing stage of the 10-kilometre run.

“It’s amazing to start the season like this,” said Paquet. “Last year I was disappointed not to podium having been close a few times, so it’s a great feeling.”

Paquet finished the 1.5-kilometre swim in 12th among 13 competitors before settling into the middle of the pack during the opening lap of the five-lap bike course.

He eventually came out in eighth spot, 27 seconds behind the leaders entering the 10-kilometre stage. At the halfway mark, Paquet was shoulder-to-shoulder with Vilaca and Graf.

They remained together until the final 400 metres, when Vilaca surged ahead, followed by Graf.

Paquet becomes just the second Canadian man to earn a WTCS medal. Tyler Mislawchuk was third at the Montreal stop in 2019.

Canadian women have also enjoyed WTCS success. Joanna Brown secured a bronze medal in 2019 in Bermuda while Kirsten Sweetland was third in Hamburg in 2014. Paula Findlay won five races between 2010 and 2011.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2026.