In May, while cycling in Japan, Wilde was hit by a truck, resulting in a punctured lung, six broken ribs, and a fractured shoulder blade. He had to stay in Japan for several weeks, unable to fly due to the lung injury.

Initial diagnoses suggested Wilde was unlikely to compete again in the 2025 season. But just a few weeks ago, the New Zealander unexpectedly announced his return to competition at the T100 London—and that comeback culminated in a resounding victory.

Hayden Wilde suffered serious injuries in Japan in May.

The T100 London consists of a nearly 2 km swim, an 80 km cycle, and an 18 km run.

The race began with the 2 km swim, where France's Leo Bergere led, closely followed by Rico Bogen, Menno Koolhaas, and Jelle Geens. Wilde conserved his energy, finishing the swim 57 seconds behind the leader.

In the 80 km cycling leg, Bogen surged ahead to take the lead. Wilde steadily closed the gap, entering the running stage just 1 minute and 14 seconds behind.

In the 18 km run, Wilde's specialty, the 27-year-old pulled away decisively, overtaking Bogen at the 6 km mark and crossing the finish line with arms raised in triumph, clocking a time of 3 hours, 17 minutes, and 37 seconds.

Hayden Wilde celebrates his T100 London 2025 victory. Photo: T100 London

This is Wilde’s second T100 victory of the 2025 season, following his win in Singapore in April. This achievement not only confirms his strong return from injury, but also strengthens his second-place ranking in the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) world rankings.

"Today's result is not just a victory, but proof that you should never give up, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem," the 27-year-old said after his win in the British capital.

Born in 1997, Wilde won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and followed that with a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The New Zealander also won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and took the title at the 2021 XTERRA World Championship, a prestigious off-road triathlon.

Hong Duy (Mundo Deportivo)