Dramatic Triathlon Finish at Seine Gold to Germany, Silver to USA, Bronze to Team GB

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Team GB's expected gold turned into bronze after a photo-finish controversy in a thrilling mixed triathlon along the Seine. Germany clinched gold, USA silver, and GB bronze in a race filled with twists and turns. Despite disappointment, the athletes embraced the Olympic spirit, showcasing resilience and sportsmanship amidst the drama.  #Triathlon #Olympics #Paris #Competition #TeamGB

Transcript

00:00Over a few deafening minutes along the Seine, Team GB expected gold, were awarded silver,

00:07and were then downgraded to bronze after a wrongly adjudged photo finish.

00:12We always knew a mixed triathlon embracing Paris' greatest sights would look spectacular,

00:17but this was a race that also took the breath away.

00:21Three teams were still slugging it out for gold as they saw the finish line on the Pont

00:26Alexandre 3, but ultimately 1 hour 25 minutes 39 seconds of racing came down to one second.

00:34This was the gap between Laura Lindemann of Germany, who sealed gold for her team, before

00:39Taylor Nibb of the USA and Team GB's Beth Potter finished second and third, respectively.

00:47Organizers initially awarded Britain the silver, but with the Americans heading to the medal

00:51ceremony to accept what they thought was bronze, the placings were reversed.

00:56However, Mike Cavendish, the GB triathlon performance director, said he had no complaints

01:03as soon as they crossed the line they looked at a still from the video, which isn't the

01:07official photo finish, he said.

01:10When we got that, it's very, very tight, but you can see it is clear, the team would have

01:16liked to have won a silver, but I think that passes pretty quickly when they realize ultimately

01:22it's an Olympic medal.

01:25It was an unbelievable race, it's a fantastic advert for our sport, and any disappointment

01:30dissipates pretty quickly.

01:33France had been the big favorites for the event that required teams of four athletes

01:38to complete a 300 meters swim, 7 kilometers on the bike, and a 1.8 kilometer run before

01:45tagging the next teammate.

01:47However, their race was effectively over on the first leg when Pierre Lacour was taken

01:52out by New Zealand's Hayden Wild on the bike and then watched in horror as his chain came

01:57off too.

01:59I managed to get up really fast after the crash, and I thought it was all right, Lacour

02:05said, no problem, it's only 5 seconds, but with the chain it took 10 to 15 seconds more.

02:13At the end of the first leg, Alex Yee and Team GB led by 3 seconds with Germany 2nd

02:19and France 40 seconds back, in last place.

02:23Those two teams continued to lead at halfway after strong legs from Georgia Taylor-Brown

02:28and Lisa Turch, but an impressive third leg from Sam Dickinson meant the British team

02:33were 5 seconds ahead when he tagged Potter.

02:37Given Potter was a good enough runner over 10,000 meters to compete at the Rio Olympics

02:42as a track and field athlete, Team GB looked to have the advantage, meanwhile the US team

02:48were 21 seconds back in 6.

02:51However, an extraordinary bike leg by Nib brought her right back to Lindemann, and between

02:57them they went on to catch and attack Potter.

03:01At this stage it was clear that the fight for the medals would be between Germany, the

03:05US, and Great Britain, but the 1.8 kilometer run proved perfect for Lindemann, as Potter

03:11found herself unable to find her track speed at the death.

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