CANYON SUPPORTS PARALYMPIAN WANG JIACHAO TO CONTINUE HIS INSPIRATIONAL SPORTING JOURNEY

Jiachao’s inspiring story, community work and inspirational performances match perfectly with Canyon’s mission: Inspire to Ride

Embargoed until Tuesday 9th September 10:00 CEST / 16:00 CST– After a highly decorated career as a swimmer, including one gold, four silvers and one bronze at Beijing and London Paralympic Games, in 2016 Wang Jiachao sought a new ambition: to stand on the Paralympic podium once more as a triathlete. 

With his world-class pedigree in the water, Jiachao steadily rose through the ranks in running and cycling to first compete in triathlon in his native China, where results allowed him to qualify for the 2019 ITU World Triathlon Para Championships in Lausanne. Second place in the Sprint distance gave him the springboard to selection for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Fourth place this time meant he narrowly missed the podium, but it only heightened his hunger for success and for bigger distances too.

Fast-forward to 2025 and his commitment to training and perseverance has paid off: Jiachao celebrated joining the Canyon athlete community by breaking the 10-hour mark at Challenge Roth, one of the most iconic full-distance triathlon events on the calendar. 

Jiachao has been riding Canyon’s Speedmax triathlon bike since May 2025 but August marks the start of an official partnership between Jiachao and Canyon, as both share the same goal of inspiring their fans and followers.

Wang Jiachao: “I exist not only to realise my goals, but also to inspire others along the way. I’m proud to work with a brand who truly believes in the same power of inspiration."

Canyon’s Markus Schweikert: “We are proud to welcome Jiachao Wang — a truly inspiring individual — into the Canyon family. As our first Chinese athlete, we are thrilled to support him with our expertise and passion, helping him push boundaries and reach new heights.  

Jiachao impresses not only with his incredible performances, but also with his professionalism and generous spirit that inspires those around him. He is a hero to many, and we are delighted to call him a Canyon athlete.”  

Following Challenge Roth in Bavaria, Germany, Jiachao made a short trip to Koblenz to visit Canyon’s headquarters where he had the opportunity to meet the wider team and go behind the scenes to discover the commitment to innovation and performance at the Koblenz campus. 

 Wang Jiachao‘s sporting profile:

Born in Jianshui County in China’s Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province in 1991, Jiachao was just five years old when he lost his left arm in an electrical accident. Keen to prove to his schoolmates that he was just as capable as they were, he took part in as many activities as he could. This determination led to him being selected for his provincial swimming team and succeeding in the tough training regime that lay ahead. Further success quickly followed as he became one of the youngest athletes to compete in the Paralympic Games after his selection for Athens 2004 at the age of 13. He would go on to represent China again, claiming medals in Beijing 2008 and in London 2012. He retired as a professional swimmer in 2015 to become a triathlete, representing China in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Now based in Shanghai, dedicates himself to the three disciplines of triathlon with a training regime that sees him regularly rack up 400 km per week on the bike, 80 km running and 20 km swimming in support of his next major goal: qualification for the 2026 Kona Ironman World Championships.

Wang Jiachao’s Speedmax:

With his switch to triathlon came the formidable task of learning to race a bicycle safely with only one arm. Thanks to braking modifications that allow him to control front and rear brakes, and front and rear electronic gear shifts with his right hand, Jiachao has mastered the art of speed, control and comfort on his Speedmax CF 8 Di2, most recently powering the bike to an impressive time of 5h 21m 10s at the 178 km cycling leg at Challenge Roth.

Jiachao will next be in action at the Asian Championships in Japan (October 12, 2025), and the National Games of China (November 9-23), where he will continue his philosophy of competition: “with only one arm there are no limits to my challenges, compared to those who have two arms and see their limitations."