Professional triathlete Tyler Smith will continue his attempt to qualify for the Olympics at the Americas Triathlon Championship in Miami on Friday.

Smith is competing in the elite race at the prestigious Homestead Miami Speedway, which is renowned for hosting Nascar and Indy Car races, as the clock ticks down to the two-year Olympic qualification cut-off period on May 27.

Ranked 106th in the World Triathlon individual Olympic rankings, the 25-year-old is battling to secure one of the 55 places on offer in the men’s event at the Games, which takes place in Paris from July 26 to August 11.

Should Smith fail to qualify automatically, there is also the possibility he could compete at the Games via the new flag rule [highest placed in World Triathlon rankings from a country who did not secure a place by Olympic ranking] or through the Tripartite Commission allocation [top 140 places in Olympic rankings and top 180 in World Triathlon rankings].

Smith is among four local athletes flying the island’s banner at the Americas Triathlon Championship this week, with Nick Pilgrim and teenagers Oliver Hayward and Jackson Langley also in action.

Bath University student Pilgrim is competing in the under-23 division, while Hayward and Langley race in the junior men’s division over the sprint distance.

Bermuda Triathlon Association president Steven Petty is thrilled to see the island represented in the event.

"We're excited to have four top athletes competing at the Americas Triathlon Championships in Miami,“ Petty said.

“Each team member has been diligently training, refining their techniques and strategies to ensure they're ready to excel on race day.

“The Americas Triathlon Championships in Miami promise to be a test of endurance and skill, with a challenging course on the Homestead-Miami Speedway, designed to push competitors to their limits.

“This event not only provides an opportunity to compete against top talent, but also fosters camaraderie and sportsmanship within the triathlon community across the region.”

Bermuda’s athletes will be accompanied by Patty Petty who is serving as a World Triathlon official with a particular emphasis on the Paratriathlon events.