Marisol Casado said her time as World Triathlon President had been "very successful" ©World Triathlon

World Triathlon President Marisol Casado has reflected on her time at the helm of the governing body she has led since 2008, claiming it has been "very successful".

Speaking to insidethegames after the conclusion of the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Abu Dhabi, Spanish official Casado picked out the sport's addition to the Paralympic Games at Rio 2016 and the inclusion of the mixed relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics among her key achievements.

After succeeding Les McDonald to become only the second President since the formation of what was then the International Triathlon Union in 1989, Casado then became an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in 2010, a position she believes is crucial for the sport.

"I think it's very important," she said of her time in charge.

"I did my homework.

"The first President was just trying to put us in the Olympic Games, and then I maintained it.

"I was also [elected as] an IOC member which is very important for our organisation, and then I think of the Paralympics in my terms, and the mixed relay also.

"I think of the maintenance of this highest event that the best athletes come too.

"It is very successful I think."

The mixed team relay made its debut in Olympic triathlon competition at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
The mixed team relay made its debut in Olympic triathlon competition at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

The mixed relay became triathlon's third Olympic medal event at Tokyo 2020, and Para triathlon is set for an increase in its number of quota places for athletes to 120 at Paris 2024.

World Triathlon hopes that the Para triathlon mixed relay, which made its first appearance in Abu Dhabi, to be on the programme at Los Angeles 2028, and Casado outlined ambitions for a further increase in the sport's presence at the Olympics.

"I think we already have more Paralympic events, we are going to add," she said.

"In the Olympics, I think we are really happy with the new medal event, the mixed relay.

"People really love it.

"We are thinking something about Los Angeles.

"Paris is closed, but we are going to [try for] LA to have a mass participation event as they are going to have with the marathon in the streets of Paris.

"We have also some ideas, maybe with cross-country triathlon or something, that maybe in some places can fit."