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Swiss outsider McMahon lifts Olympic triathlon gold, edging local hope
Jones SYDNEY, Sept 16 (AFP) - Swiss mum Brigitte McMahon gatecrashed the expected Australian party by edging world number one and local darling Michellie Jones in the shadow of the imposing Opera House to win the first ever women's triathlon Olympic gold medal on Saturday. McMahon, who has a three-year old son and is ranked only 21 in the world, and Jones raced shoulder to shoulder for the final quarter of the concluding 10km run to produce one of the most thrilling finishes in triathlon's short history. As the Opera House loomed, the 33-year-old McMahon made a final kick to win by two seconds from the California-based Jones. McMahon's time was two hours and 40.52 seconds. Her compatriot Magali Messmer ran third, 28.31 seconds behind McMahon. "This is unbelievable," said McMahon. "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." Jones was upbeat despite finishing in second spot. "The run got tough with three kilometres to go and she just had a bit more in the tank," said Jones, who won two World Cups over the Sydney course. "I am really excited at winning the silver. I have been in the sport for a long time and maybe I can hang about for another four years and go for gold in Athens." McMahon, who put her triathlon career on hold to have son Dominic but showed good form this year with two runner up placings in World Cup races, suprisingly stayed with Jones in the concluding stretch although ranked 20 places below her. At the half way stage in the run the Swiss duo of McMahon and Messmer, Aussie double Jones and Loretta Harrop and Joanna Zieger of the United States were in a pack which had opened up a gap of 38 seconds on the majority of the field. It was a stunning setting for triathlon's Olympic debut with the competitors starting and finishing in the shadow of the world famous Sydney Opera House. 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. The Games burst into life on Friday with local heroine Cathy Freeman turning water into the Olympic flame. American Sheila Taormina opened up a sizable 35 second gap over the favourites after a stunning 1500 metre swim leg. Taormina, a specialist swimmer who won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the 4 x 400 metres relay, streaked away as if chased by one of the sharks some international competitors feared would be lurking in Sydney Harbour. The 31-year-old American, who won the US trials before coming in sixth at the World Championships in Perth in April, built up a 35.20 second gap over Australia's 1998 Goodwill Games champion Harrop. Switzerland's Messmer and current world champion Nicole Hackett were just a few seconds behind the leader after the swim leg in the chilly 17 degree celsius water. Divers with electrical shark repellers rode shotgun to ensure that the field of 49 was not dramatically reduced by a freak attack. Organisers had assured competitors that there was more chance of being struck by lightning than being bitten by a shark, with the last fatal attack in the area in 1963. The pack caught Taormina after the first lap of the six lap bike section with Germany's Joelle Frantzmann going to the front of the pack midway through. She was trailed closely by the Australian trio but Canada's Carol Montgomery, runner up to Hackett in controversial circumstances at this year's world championship, crashed out dramatically in the third lap. Montgomery, who faced her left leg being amputated last December through a blood blockage, claimed before the race that a blunder by officials, who cut short the race by three kilometres, cost her the world title. Surgery saved her leg and she was confident of a medal after bravely battling back to fitness. It was not immediately known if the fall would prevent her starting in the 10,000 km Olympic track race. Frantzmann concluded the bike leg in the lead but an exceptionally quick turn by Jones saw her race away in first place in a time of one hour 25 minutes and 16 seconds.
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