WILLEMSTAD – Foundation Tri Curaçao will kick off its 2026 Aquathlon Series with the Back-to-School Aquathlon on Saturday, September 19, giving young athletes an opportunity to compete for individual, school and team honors throughout the new season.
The opening competition will take place at Kokomo Beach and is open to participants between the ages of 9 and 17. Athletes will compete in three age categories: 9–11, 12–14 and 15–17 years.
The aquathlon combines running and swimming in a single competition. Participants will begin with a one-kilometer run, followed by a 100-meter swim and another one-kilometer run to the finish.
Tri Curaçao says the event is designed for both experienced competitors and young athletes participating in an aquathlon for the first time. Participants can compete individually while also representing their school or sports club.
The September event will be the first opportunity to collect points toward the 2026 Aquathlon Series standings. Points accumulated during the season will count toward three competitions: the Individual Championship, School Championship and Team Championship.
The season will culminate in the Tri Curaçao Island Aquathlon Championship, with points earned during the Back-to-School Aquathlon contributing to the final standings.
School and team competition played an important role in last year's series. Vespucci College captured the School Championship, while Typhoon finished as Overall Team Champion across the different age categories.
Foundation Tri Curaçao hopes to build on the participation achieved during the previous season, which attracted hundreds of young athletes from dozens of schools.
Beyond competition, the organization wants the series to encourage more young people to become physically active and discover endurance sports. Swimming and running together challenge participants' fitness, determination and mental resilience, while also providing opportunities to connect with other young athletes.
Tri Curaçao emphasizes that success is not limited to winning medals. For some participants, completing their first aquathlon or improving a personal best can be an achievement in itself.
Young athletes interested in preparing for the series can also participate in weekly Youth Aquathlon training sessions. Training takes place every Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at SDK and focuses on developing swimming and running skills.
The Back-to-School Aquathlon will take place Saturday, September 19, at Kokomo Beach. Registration and additional information are available through Tri Curaçao's Youth Aquathlon page.