Max Stapley

Triathletes are known for their globetrotting exploits – Max Stapley takes it to another level. Born in France but growing up in Canada and Australia, the Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate is now based in the British triathlon hotbed of Leeds.

Coming from a swim and run background, the 23-year-old honed his triathlon skills under the tutelage of Jamie Turner with the famous Wollongong Wizards – the New South Wales training group that helped develop star athletes such as Aaron Royle, Ashleigh Gentle and Jake Birtwhistle, as well as 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgenson of the USA.

Stapley made an impressive start to his supertri career at Arena Games Triathlon 2022, taking part in all three events, finishing second in Munich and sixth in London before a creditable ninth-place in the final round in Singapore. With pool swimming isolating strengths and weaknesses in the water, Stapley’s talent shone through and kept him in the mix during each race.

Stapley then competed for Team Cheetahs in the 2022 Championship Series. While bike crashes hindered his chances at individual glory, Stapley got on a podium as part the Cheetahs who finished 3rd in the team competition.

Away from supertri action, Stapley already has two top 10 finishes in World Cup racing, and has continued his development this summer by competing in Arzachena (Italy) and Pontevedra (Spain) – leading out of the water in the latter.

He has also ventured successfully into middle distance racing, finishing third in a blistering time at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain in 2022, and recently taking the win at IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia on August 5, 2024.

It’s not been without some upheaval. Having represented Australia in his youth, Stapley is recently switched allegiance to Britain and raced the 2023 Arena Games Triathlon series under the neutral strip of World Triathlon where he finished in 14th position in the overall series.

Stapley returned to supertri racing in 2023 where he finished an impressive fifth in the series opener in London before finishing 16th, 13th and 17th in Malibu, Toulouse and NEOM respectively.

Stapley is in a relationship with fellow Crown Racing athlete Kate Waugh.