Chicago Traffic Alert: Major Street Closures for 2026 Supertri Triathlon at Foster Beach

CHICAGO (WLS) — A vibrant Saturday morning saw Chicago’s picturesque lakefront buzzing with youthful energy as the city welcomed participants of every age for the much-anticipated Supertri Chicago weekend. The festivity kicked off with the exhilarating 2026 Supertri Chicago Kids Triathlon, hosted at the serene Foster Beach.

Excitement filled the air as the triathlon commenced. With eager faces and racing hearts, young competitors awaited the countdown of “three, two, one,” before the echoing blasts of horns signaled the start of this spirited race.

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Intrepid young athletes bravely took to the gentle waves of Lake Michigan before swiftly transitioning to the cycling and running segments of the competition. Among the promising participants was 12-year-old Brooke Casey, a seasoned veteran whose enthusiasm for the event is as strong as ever.

“It’s just fun. And I like when I see other people doing it like I see like little kids doing it and it’s really fun,” expressed Casey, her youthful spirit encapsulating the joy of the day.

For Brooke and her brother Kyle, this sporting event is more than just a race; it’s a cherished family ritual. Their father, Brendan Casey, proudly shared that the Casey family’s involvement has been a staple for over ten years, grounding this tradition in both athleticism and family bonding.

“It’s cool because we’ve got our oldest son to be here racing again tomorrow, so the three of them have been doing that since they’re little, like 5, we’ve been doing this for 10+ years now watching it. So, obviously I’m proud of my kids. It’s great to see him compete,” Brendan Casey said.

Organizers said the Supertri Chicago Triathlon, formerly known as the Chicago Triathlon, is the largest event in the series. More than 9,000 participants are expected to swim, run, and cycle over the two-day competition.

“Chicago is just a sports city and it embraces this,” said Michael D’Hulst, founder and CEO of Supertri.

Roughly 700 children, ranging from grade school students to teenagers, competed Saturday morning in the endurance event, which combines swimming, cycling, and running.

Arya Bommi, 12, said competing in the race gives him confidence.

“Makes me feel proud of myself. It makes me feel like I can do stuff,” Bommi said.

Bommi hoped to improve on his time from last year. His mother, Himabindu Chittamuru, said she has watched his dedication firsthand.

“I’m so proud. He’s practicing running every day before school starts at 8. He wakes up at 6, and then, he runs a mile,” Chittamuru said.

Supporters said Supertri Chicago is about more than competition. Organizers said the event generates millions of dollars for the Chicago economy and aims to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Lurie Children’s Hospital for pediatric cancer and blood disorder research.

Justin Law, who is taking part in the event with his 9-year-old son Joey, said the cause motivated their participation.

“So, I work at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I work in the cardiothoracic ICU. We have a lot of us actually taking care of it tomorrow, so we did it as a group. Joey saw me training, said he wants to do it,” Law said.

The day’s activities continued with a super sprint race designed for newcomers to the sport.

The weekend’s main competition is scheduled for Sunday at Monroe Harbor, where thousands of athletes are expected to compete in sprint, relay, and Olympic-distance races beginning at 6 a.m.

List of road closures

Saturday, 8/22