Australian triathlete Matt Hauser has claimed victory in a dramatic sprint finish at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra, Spain, defeating Portuguese rival Vasco Vilaça by just 0.08 seconds.

The Australian entered the final race of the series knowing he needed an exceptional result to keep his championship hopes alive. A number of crashes during the season had affected his campaign, leaving him needing to win the final race while also finishing well ahead of Vilaça in the overall standings.

Hauser and Vilaça stayed closely matched throughout the race. The pair remained together through the swimming and cycling sections before separating themselves from much of the field during the run.

Olympic champion Alex Yee also entered the contest for victory during the final running stage, producing a strong finish that brought him into contention. However, Hauser and Vilaça continued their battle for first place as the race moved towards its final metres.

The Australian ultimately produced a decisive finishing move. Both Hauser and Vilaça were recorded with a time of 1:39:31, but Hauser's final dip at the line gave him victory by 0.08 seconds.

Although the victory was not enough for Hauser to secure a second consecutive overall series championship, he said he was pleased to have delivered when it mattered. The result also provides momentum as he continues preparing for his longer-term goal of competing successfully at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Hauser's victory was accompanied by another major Australian achievement in the women's para-triathlon competition.

Newcastle athlete Lauren Parker won the PTWC classification at the same championship event, securing her sixth world para-triathlon title. The victory moved Parker beyond the previous Australian record of five world championship titles held by Bill Chaffey.

The PTWC classification is for athletes who use wheelchairs in everyday life. Competitors complete a 750-metre open-water swim, followed by a 20-kilometre handcycle leg and a five-kilometre racing-wheelchair section.

Parker led her race from the early stages and maintained control through all three disciplines. She said she felt strong across the swim, bike and run and was able to extend her advantage during the cycling section before managing her lead through the final stage.

The latest victory adds to an already extensive list of achievements for Parker. She is the reigning Paralympic champion in para-triathlon and also won gold in para-cycling at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games period. She has also competed in winter sports, demonstrating her versatility across several disciplines.

Another Australian, Anu Francis, also reached the podium, taking silver in the women's PTS2 World Championship race.

The results in Pontevedra provided a strong showing for Australian endurance athletes, with Hauser's extremely close sprint victory and Parker's record sixth world title highlighting two different achievements at the championship finals.