Flora Duffy takes Commonwealth gold
Flora Duffy of Bermuda survived hot temperatures and dominated the sprint distance women’s triathlon from start to finish, taking gold over runner-up Jessica Learmonth of Great Britain and 3rd-place Joanna Brown of Canada in the first event of the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in the Gold Coast of Australia.
Duffy, Learmonth and Sophie Coldwell of Great Britain led the swim on a hot, humid and windy day on Southland Broadwater Parklands. Taking a short lead into transition, Duffy and Learmonth, Duffy and Learmonth broke away together much as they did at the 2016 WTS Grand Final in Cozumel. Halfway through the multi-lap 20 kilometer bike course, the duo built a one minute lead on chasers that included Ashleigh Gentle of Australia, Vicky Holland of Great Britain, and Joanna Brown of Canada. By the time the field hit T2, the chasers made no dent.
Starting the run, Duffy soon left Learmonth in her wake, who kept looking over her shoulder for the anticipated onslaught of fast runners on the move. Grabbing a Bermudian flag, Duffy had plenty of time to soak up the cheers and finished in a fast-for-the-distance 56:50.
“I came in the favorite so that adds its own pressure,” Duffy told ITU media. “I am getting used to the pressure – from 2016 (winning the ITU World Championships) I had to get used to it, it is the space in which I am. So I just try to forget about it and do my thing,”
Duffy’s day went as smoothly as ever during her two year domination of the WTS circuit, adding another career highlight as the pride of tiny Bermuda. “I’ve always dreamed of this so I can’t let it get to me,” said Duffy. “Jess was phenomenal. We work well together, we race so often together that we have an understanding. I am from a tiny country with not a lot of medalists so I am expected to win. I try to forget about it because I do it every week, so that’s how I deal with the pressure. There’s a 50-foot poster of me in town. Being an introvert it gets a bit much, but it’s great to inspire.”
Learmonth used her anxiety to fuel her run and held off the chasers and for the silver. ““I’m ecstatic,” Learmonth told ITU media. ” The course was full on and it was really hot,” she added. “I’m more used to the cold and the rain.”
.Joanna Brown was the happiest member of the podium having fractured her shoulder in a crash at WTS Abu Dhabi a month ago. ““I was in the middle of the pack during the swim and then coming onto the bike I was a bit nervous having fallen off and fractured my shoulder less than a month ago so I just chilled on there,” Brown told ITU media. “I haven’t done much road training so that also made me nervous. I have been doing a lot of running training so I knew that was going to be my strongest leg so I just ramped it up there. I really wanted it, so I’m super happy with the result.”
Vicky Holland, who took a Commonwealth bronze four years ago at Glasgow, was disappointed 4th, as was Australian Ashleigh Gentle who finished 5th. “The run doesn’t usually let me down,” said Gentle. “Overall I’m disappointed I didn’t bring home a gold for Australia. It would have been nice to have better organisation on the bike,”
Commonwealth Games Triathlon
Gold Coast, Australia
April 5, 2018
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k
Elite Women Results
1, Flora Duffy (BER) 56:50
2. Jessica Learmonth (GBR) 57:33
3. Joanna Brown (CAN) 57:38
4. Vicky Holland (GBR) 57:42
5. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 58:08
6. Sophie Coldwell (GBR) 58:19
7. Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL) 58:31
8. Non Stanford (Wales) 58:45
9. Gillian Backhouse (AUS) 58:54
10. Rebecca Spence (NZL) 59:12
