Results/Photos

Date: July 25, 2026 Participant: Matthew Gulden #1050 Race: 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon Event: Olympic Triathlon Weather: Hot, but otherwise a great day for a triathlon.

Bike Surge Fuels a Top-10 Olympic Finish Matthew Gulden closed out the 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon in 2:08:37, good for 7th overall, 7th among men, and 3rd in the Elite Men division out of 1,987 finishers. After a swim that left him in the 60s overall, Gulden turned in a standout bike leg, averaging roughly 23.8 mph and climbing into the top 15 by T2 including a stretch where he posted the fastest split in the Elite Men field. That move set up a run leg that held steady in the top 10 all the way to the line. Compared to his 2025 Spudman result (2:02:33, 8th overall, 6th in Elite Men), Gulden actually improved his placement this year moving up to 7th overall and 3rd in his division despite a slightly longer overall time. The bike remains his biggest weapon, and tightening the swim could open the door to an even faster transition into that strength next season.