Katie Zaferes was announced Tuesday as the sixth and final member of the U.S. Olympic triathlon team seeking its first medal since 2004 and first gold medal in the sport’s 16-year Olympic history.
Zaferes, 26, was named to her first Olympic team 10 days after the final Olympic selection race in Yokohama, Japan.
Zaferes comfortably led the qualifying standings for the third and final U.S. Olympic women’s spot behind World champion Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah True, who qualified for Rio on Aug. 2.
USA Triathlon decided not to bypass Zaferes in discretionary selection for a less-accomplished triathlete that would be used as a domestique to improve Jorgensen and/or True’s medal chances in Rio.
Jorgensen, True and Zaferes are the only active U.S. women to make a World Triathlon Series podium, all having done so at least five times in the last two years.
Jorgensen won in Yokohama, with Zaferes placing sixth and True not competing.
The U.S. Olympic men’s triathlon team includes Greg Billington, Ben Kanute and Joe Maloy, all first-time Olympians who have never made a World Series podium.
MORE: Gwen Jorgensen returns to top of podium
Ladies & gentleman I'm proud to introduce to you the final member of the USA Triathlon Olympic Team! - @KZaferes6 pic.twitter.com/3iWXGazn6i
— Tommy Zaferes🥑 (@tzaferes) May 24, 2016
