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Triathlon queen McMahon owes success to husband-trainer Mike, son Dominic
SYDNEY, Sept 16 (AFP) - Swiss mum Brigitte McMahon dedicated her thrilling Olympic triathlon gold medal win over world number one Michellie Jones of Australia in the scenic shadow of the Opera House on Saturday to her personal cheer squad - husband/trainer Mike and young son Dominic. McMahon gatecrashed the expected Australian party by edging red-hot favourite Jones and leaving other local hopes Loretta Harrop, the 1998 Goodwill Games champion, and current world champion Nicole Hackett in her wake. As the 33-year-old McMahon raced shoulder to shoulder with Jones in the downhill stretch to the Opera House, husband Mike and three-year-old son Dominic - clad in 'Team McMahon' T-shirts - tried to make their voices heard above the roar of encouragement for the home girl from thousands of Australians. With the Opera House finish looming, the 33-year-old made a final kick to win by two seconds from the California-based Jones, in a time of two hours and 40.52 seconds. Switzerland's Magali Messmer ran third, 28.31 seconds behind her countrywoman and celebrated a red-letter day for Switzerland by completing the last few yards waving two Swiss flags handed to her by spectators. Still gasping for breath, McMahon was waiting to embrace Messmer at the finishing line. "A lot has changed in my life since taking up triathlon. 'Why have I made such an improvement?' The birth of my son, Dominic, in 1997 is one reason," said McMahon after winning the first Olympic triathlon gold. "The biggest change in my career was when husband Mike took over my coaching 18 months ago. I was being trained by post before then, trying to follow written instructions. We started working on strategy and the like and that was a big step forward. Mike taking over made me as a triathlete." McMahon, who met her American husband poolside in Hawaii eight years ago when she was a budding swimmer and he was a promising Ironman triathlete, said that she had visualised the final sprint down towards the Opera House countless times in training. "My husband urged me every day in sprint practice to imagine racing for the finish with either Jones, Hackett, Harrop or one of the other favourites. I have practiced sprinting against each one of them so many times in my mind that when it happened I said, 'now's the time, do it," she said. "Winning the gold is overwhelming - a dream come true." McMahon is ranked 20 places below Jones but two second place finishes in World Cup races this year, including a runner up spot to Jones over the Olympic course in Sydney in April, did not go unnoticed by her competitors. "I knew she (McMahon) would be quick downhill. I tried to stay with her but my legs would not respond any more with 200 metres to go. She was awesome. But it is great to win a silver for Australia - my ears are still buzzing with the noise from the incredible crowd, which included my family," said Jones. "The race was spectacular, fast and furious, and great for the image of triathlon. I think today we showed that triathlon deserves to be an Olympic sport." It was a stunning setting for triathlon's Olympic debut with the competitors competing in and around the world famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour. The 1500 swim leg took the contestants over Farm Cove and the 40km bike leg and concluding 10km run was raced on downtown streets lined five deep by Australians willing on one of their so called "Dream Trio" to the hosts first victory of the Sydney Games. McMahon was ninth after the opening swim leg, with Jones delighted to finish her worst discipline in the pack. The Australian had a strong bike ride and, after a quick change into her specially designed green and gold race shoes, started the run in first place more than 10 seconds ahead of McMahon, who faltered in the transition. The duo broke away from a group of five, which also included Harrop and eventual bronze medallist Messmer, with three kilometres left to set up a breathtaking final push for gold. "When I was out front with Jones I felt I was stronger and did not push myself - I ran at my pace. With Jones and I out there with the Opera House in sight I knew I had first or second - that feeling is as good as it gets," said McMahon. Canada's Carol Montgomery, who fought back from surgery which saved her diseased left leg last December to finish second in April's world championship, crashed out of the race in the third lap of the bikes. An entrant in the track 10,000 km later in the Games, she was expected to make a big impact in the concluding run.
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