WOLLONGONG, Australia – On the morning of Saturday, October 18, 2025, Grand Valley State cross country and track and field alumnus Chris Hammer was crowned World Champion at the 2025 World Triathlon Para Championships in Wollongong, Australia. Competing in the men's PTS5, Hammer crossed the finish line at 00:58:32 to earn his second World Championship title.
 
RESULTS
 
Hammer concluded the first event of the triathlon, the 750m swim, at 00:10:49, placing him 11th of 13 athletes at the start. The former Laker totaled 00:01:03 on his first transition, moving from swim to the 20km bike.
 
Hammer completed the next event in just 00:30.01 – the fastest bike time of all athletes. He then transitioned to the final event in just 36 seconds, preparing to run the final 5k of the events. The fastest in the race, he completed the 5k in just 00:16:03 to cross the finish line first at 00:58:32.
 
This gold follows two other international crowns for the Laker alum. In 2021, he won gold at the Paratriathlon World Championships. Three years later, he crossed the finish line first to win gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
 
"This year's World Championship win not only solidifies in my mind that Paris wasn't a fluke," noted Hammer in an Instagram post. "But also proves that I belong competing against the world's best."