When Para Triathlete, Jack Howell, moved from Victoria to Queensland in January this year to train at the Queensland Performance Centre, he had high hopes to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Coached by Olympian, Brendan Sexton, Howell has not only qualified and been selected for Paris, but in a whirlwind six months, he has claimed the National and Oceania Championships, a World Series Gold and finished the season with a World ranking of number four.
At 20 years of age, Howell will debut as the youngest in the Paralympics PTS5 Triathlon and is the youngest male on the Australian Para Triathlon team. In just two years of international racing, Jack has brought home some impressive silverware with nine medals for Australia including four gold medals.
Howell credits his recent success to training with a mainstream able-body squad. Coached by National Junior Coach Brendan Sexton, an Olympic Triathlete at the 2012 London Games.
Howell was born with a condition known as Symbrachydactyly, which resulted in a congenital amputation of the left hand and affects the left arm's length and motion. He has always been determined, a problem solver, a larrikin, and a bit sports mad. He just loves having fun and competing in his sport.
With no disability category for junior triathletes, from 13 years of age Howell raced in his age group against able-body competitors. He was the first para-athlete to be selected for the able-body School Sport Victoria triathlon team and in 2023 was the first para-athlete to hold a National Para Triathlon and National Triathlon Age Group (able body) Champion title in the same year.
Nicknamed by his squad mates as 'The Howeller' Jack is known for his Aussie larrikin humour, the classic mullet and mo, start line kisses, and mid-race antics. Jack is currently studying Bachelor of Education at Griffith University and when he's not training or racing triathlon you can find him up a mountain or near a river camping and four-wheel driving.
Howell will be competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and is aiming for the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
The Para Triathlon will start from Pont Alexandre III with a 750m swim in the Seine River, a 20km bike ride along the cobblestones of Champs De Elysees to the Arch De Triomphe, and a 5km run on the streets of Paris. The PTS5 Para Triathlon will be aired by 9Now on the 1st of September.
Key Facts:
World ranking: 4
Gold medals: 4
Medals: 9
About us:
Website: www.jackhowelltriathlon.com
Australian Sports Foundation Fundraiser: https://asf.org.au/projects/jack-howell/jack-to-race-para-triathlon
