Not even illness was going to stop Finley Jakes competing at the Volvo 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea, where the 22-year-old finished 11th in the men’s PTS4. 

Jakes was hoping to back up his second place at the previous Volvo WTPS event in Montreal, but a disrupted build-up saw him pleased to finish further back as he took a much-needed boost from the home crowd. 

The reigning British paraduathlon champion came out of the swim third fastest but fell back on the bike and run as he came home in 01:09:09. 

“It was good, a great atmosphere, I really loved being here,” Jakes explained. “I was really looking forward to it.  

“It was good to have the crowd along all parts of the course and really gave me a boost, especially towards the end as well.

“I was hoping for a top five today, but coming into it the last couple of days, I have been a bit under the weather.  

“I made a turn for the worse this morning, so just came into today just wanting to complete it and just give it a go. 

“I wanted to do it, especially as home race. I wasn’t going to miss out on that opportunity.” 

Swansea was making its debut as hosts of a Volvo WTPS event as Saturday also marked the first time the UK had held a standalone World Triathlon Para Series race. 

France took a 1-2 in the PTS4 with Alexis Hanquinquant earning victory as countryman Pierre-Antoine Baele claimed silver and USA’s Eric Mcelvenny finished with bronze. 

Michael Taylor was the first Brit home in a time of 01:03:03 in fifth and Jakes will hope to get the better of his compatriot in November when the duo heads to Abu Dhabi for the World Championships. 

Jakes finished ninth in his World Championship debut with Taylor again fifth behind victor Hanquinquant. 

He added: “It was nice, it was a good swim, you could see people across all sides. 

“The bike course was nice along the seafront, I got a bit of support along the main road on the run as well from people in cars, so it was great. 

“Next for me is hopefully Alanya World Cup, I will be looking to get a pretty good result and then it will just be improving on my performance at Worlds last year. If I'm fully fit, I'm sure I'll give it a good go.” 

The Volvo 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea - Britain's first ever standalone World Triathlon Para Series event - headlined a week-long para sport festival in the Welsh city, which also included the first ever International Paratriathlon Conference. Interested in getting involved in paratriathlon? Visit the get involved page on britishtriathlon.org