Casado, 55, succeeded Les McDonald as the ITU President in 2008 and two years later the Spaniard was made a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where she is seen as one of the organisation's rising stars.

But she will be challenged at the 25th ITU Congress in Auckland on October 23 by Yu, who in March stepped down as the leader of the South Korean team heading for the Olympics after he appeared before prosecutors for questioning over allegations of corruption linked to embezzlement and tax evasion.

Yu, the chairman of local business group Eugene Corporation, was accused of acting illgeally in a deal with Hi-Mart Corporation, a major appliance retailer in South Korea, when his conglomerate acquired a major stake in the company in 2007.

The 57-year-old Yu was not officially charged and Eugene Corporation sold its share in Hi-Mart Corporation to Lotte Shopping in July.

Spain's Marisol Casado is seen as a rising star in the International Olympic Committee, having been elected two years after becoming the ITU President

But it will nevertheless be a major surprise if Yu, who has been the President of the Asian Triathlon Confederation since 2003, unseats Casado, especially after she oversaw such successful triathlon competitions at London 2012 where Switzerland's Nicola Spirig won the women's race in a photo-finish and Britain's Alistair Brownlee took the men's event before a crowd of more than a million spectators.

Yu's election manifesto include pledges that he will "ensure the inclusion of a winter triathlon in the exhibition sports of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games", which appears to be a promise he will not be able to keep as the Olympic Charter does not allow for sports that do not take place on ice or snow to be included in the Winter Games and also the IOC have abandoned demonstration sports.

Other manifesto promises include adding the mixed team relay to the Olympic programme for Rio 2016 and the sprint triathlon at the 2020 Games.

Yu also wants to "cut down expenditure through shutting down unnecessary offices and downsizing the ITU structure". 

Casado, who has already launched a campaign to get the mixed team relay on the programme at Rio 2016, promised to try to continue to grow the sport during the next four years if she is re-elected.

"Having the privilege of leading this organisation, and having been able to develop and improve the legacy received in 2008, without any doubt, we can say the dream has come true," she said.

"Leading the great group of people who are in the Executive Board of ITU, supported by a highly qualified team of staff and volunteers, it has being the best job experience I could have ever imagined."

A crowd of more than a million people watched Britain's Alistair Brownlee win the triathlon Olympic gold medal at London 2012

There is also set to be a battle for the role of vice-president, with six candidates chasing three spots.

They include Britain's Sarah Springman, who has held one of the posts since 2008.

The other candidates are Mexico's Antonio Alvarez and Australia's Bill Walker, who were also elected vice-presidents four years ago, and  Argentina's Alberto Raul Fonollosa, Brazil's Carlos Alberto Machado Froes and Canada's Stephen Holmes.

"[I am] dedicated to the future of triathlon, I have consistently delivered excellent organisation and results through the teams I have worked with and would be honoured to do so in the future," said Springman, who is also the President of the British Triathlon Federation.

Springman is also a candidate for the secretary general's position, currently held by Canada's Loreen Barnett, who has been in the position since 2009, having previously worked as executive director since 2000. 

Other candidates are Alvarez and Liechtenstein's Philip Schädler.

The Congress, which are being held in conjunction with the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, which are being held in the New Zealand city, will also see elections for the Executive Board, Coaches Committee, Consitution Committee, Credentials Committee, Medical and Anti-Doping Committee, Multisport Committee, Paratriathlon Committee, Technical Committee and Women's Committee.

To see a full list of candidates for all the positions and committees click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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