World Triathlon is stepping confidently into a new era of transparency and accountability, following an ambitious reform plan unveiled by its President, Antonio Arimany. The initiative, announced in a letter sent to all national federations on July 28, underscores a bold commitment to strengthening the sport’s global governance.
The move comes just nine months after Arimany’s decisive victory in the presidential elections, where he secured 64.29 percent of the votes. His closest rival, Ian Howard of Great Britain, received 20.71 percent, while Denmark’s Mads Freund earned 13.57 percent and Hungary’s Tamás Tóth just 1.43 percent. The result gave Arimany a clear mandate to lead the federation with vision and authority.

Full letter from World Triathlon signed by Antonio Arimany and sent on July 28.

Now, Arimany is using that mandate to bring about structural change. In response to a June 24 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which pointed out contradictions in some existing rules, the president is spearheading the creation of a modern, coherent, and legally sound framework for World Triathlon. “It is my intention to promote a comprehensive review of the current regulatory framework as a clear opportunity to build a more robust and transparent future, aligned with the highest international legal standards,” Arimany wrote in his letter.

An independent working group

A central element of the plan is the formation of an independent working group made up of internationally respected experts in law and sports governance. According to Arimany, the group will operate without any biased interests and will focus on reviewing and improving the federation’s rules and election processes.

True to his collaborative style, Arimany has also extended a hand to the presidents of the Continental Confederations, inviting them to co-develop a single, unified electoral regulation. His aim is to ensure consistency and credibility across all levels of triathlon governance while reflecting the diversity and specific needs of each region.

“This regulation includes the sensibilities, cultures…”

“I want to work with the Confederation Presidents so that, in the future, we can adopt a common electoral regulation for both World Triathlon and the Continental Confederations,” he explained. “It is important to me that this regulation includes the sensibilities, cultures, and perspectives that shape our global sport.”

Rather than a top-down reform, the process will involve direct consultation with stakeholders across the sport. Arimany confirmed that he will begin discussions with Continental Confederations and National Federations to present the initiatives in detail, gather their input, and shape the final proposals together.

Leadership maturity and forward thinking

The reform initiative has been widely interpreted as a signal of leadership maturity and forward thinking. At a time when many international federations are under pressure to modernize, World Triathlon is choosing to lead by example.

Arimany’s message is clear. The sport must evolve with the times while preserving its integrity, inclusivity, and unity. By placing transparency and legal coherence at the center of its future, World Triathlon is not just reforming its internal systems. It is setting a new standard for global sport governance.