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McMahon takes women's triathlon gold
SYDNEY, Sept 16 (AFP) - Brigitte McMahon of Switzerland won the gold medal in the women's triathlon here Saturday on the first official day of competition of the Sydney Olympics in a thrilling finish. Australia's Michellie Jones took silver while Magali Messmer, also of Switzerland, won the bronze medal. Messmer arrived at the finish waving two Swiss flags where she was embraced by McMahon who had finished seconds earlier. McMahon finished in 2hrs 0min 40sec, just two seconds ahead of Jones with Messmer a further 26 seconds back. The triathlon - a 1500m swim, a 40km cycle ride and a 10km run - is making its debut in the Olympics and on this evidence with big crowds on the streets of Australia's biggest city it is here to stay. When the run began both Jones and McMahon were in a group of five athletes who broke away from the other leaders and on the last lap they engaged in a thrilling duel with the Australian perched ominously on the shoulder of McMahon. But McMahon held off local favourite Jones, breaking away in the final 200m to win by two seconds to deny the host nation a gold medal that many thought had been a formality. There was little incident in the 1500m swimming section, but the cycling stage - a 40km ride - really separated the women from the girls with saw several spectacular tumbles on the streets of downtown Sydney. Canada's Carol Montgomery, touted as a leading contender for the gold, was one of the riders involved, denting her challenge. But despite widespread predictions of Australian domination it was Germany's Joelle Frantzmann who was doing most of the work. Harrop was a close second with Nancy Kemp-Arendt of Luxemburg also well to the fore. But then - to the cheers of the crowd - Harrop briefly took control of the race. But as the race hit the hour mark there was a new leader, Jennifer Gutierrez of the United States who made the first real escape bid. It was a short-lived breakaway, however, and Frantzmann led the bid to haul in the American with Frenchwomen Isabelle Mouton-Michellys and Christine Hocq also well in the hunt. By now a leading group of around a dozen riders had pulled three and a half minutes ahead of the also rans. Frantzmann was first to park her bike and get into her running shoes but Jones, Switzerland's Magali Messmer and Loretta Harrop soon broke away. Another American Joanna Zeiger led the chasing pack, who gradually reeled in the leading trio while another Swiss competitot Brigitte McMahon joined the fray. It was now clearly a five-way fight for the gold between the two Aussies, the American and the two Swiss. On the last lap McMahon led Jones all the way but the Australian could not find the strength to pass her and the Swiss athlete produced her winning surge within sight of the finishing line.
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