Hayden Wilde has shown he is one heck of an athlete.

Just seven months after a horrific training accident left his season and career in jeopardy, the Whakatāne triathlete capped a phenomenal season on the T100 Triathlon World Tour by winning the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final in Lusail last week.

His victory to capture the world title crown he desperately craved was impressive.

“It’s nice to not choke at the end of the season. I’ve done it many times. It’s cool to finish it off and win the way I have in the last few races,” Wilde said in an interview after the race.

Starting the day with a clear advantage over Belgian Jelle Geens and German Mika Noodt in the rankings, the New Zealander was never really tested and cruised to his sixth win from seven starts on the T100 Tour this year.

In doing so, he secured maximum points and has set down a serious marker for 2026.

“It’s pretty special, from starting in Singapore, then being in hospital for a bit, and then coming back and winning a few races, and then finishing here in Qatar. It’s been a long season but it’s nice to finish up.

“I just want to see more short- course athletes come and toss it up with us, you know, the likes of Matty Hauser and Alex [Yee], if those guys want to come over and have a bit of fun.

“I love this sort of racing, it really shows how good you can be individually on the bike and the run.”

It’s an event he’s not only thrived in, but dominated, and other than a miscalculation in Dubai, which left him and many others fuming as they did an extra lap, Wilde has been a class above in the T100 format.

Back in hospital in Japan, Wilde wasn’t certain he’d race again, so it’s remarkable to see him back doing what he loves just over half a year later.

“Lining up in London (the first race back) was emotional, thinking ‘can I still compete and be up the front?

“I’m happy to be racing again and finish it off and get the monkey off my back.”

It was his first world title.

Wilde has a small break back in New Zealand for a couple of weeks before starting his preparation for the 2026 season.

“I need to work on my swim and get it back to where I need it to be to compete in the World Series.”