Fyn 2018: Lejeune, Hannesdottir secure Elite Aquathlon World Gold in Denmark

Winner of Elite ETU European Aquathlon Championship Gold in both 2015 and 2017, Great Britain’s Hannah Kitchen added to her Elite international swim-run medal collection today with Silver at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships, held at Middelfart Harbour, Fyn, Denmark.

Looks like we have two Elite silvers! Senior and U23 @BritTri @tri247 here, @hannah_kitch being interviewed after a great 5k to take world Aquathlon Silver. #getin pic.twitter.com/E6mqCYRbU3

— Jez Cox (@JezCox) July 12, 2018

Her second World Championship medal, that adds to Bronze won four years ago Edmonton. Having also won European Silver (2014) and Bronze (2016) alongside her two ETU wins, Hannah now only (!) needs to secure a World Championship Gold to complete her full set of ETU and ITU medals, in all colours, in the Aquathlon discipline.

Pride of Britain on the Middelfart Marina Beach. @hannah_kitch & @chloenpollard take senior & U23 Elite silver in Aquathlon world's. @BritTri @tri247 @ITUmultisport @worldtriathlon pic.twitter.com/YVxso4ql9j

— Jez Cox (@JezCox) July 12, 2018

Finishing seventh overall today, Chloe Pollard finished second in the Under-23 division, just 11 seconds down on the Gold medal winner, Sofiya Pryyma (UKR).

Pollard lead the race out of the water as expected, but had several athletes on her shoulder, with Kitchen around 15 seconds back after the opening 1km swim. Edda Hannesdottir (ISL) was one of the athletes to match the pace of Pollard in the water and then added the second fastest run split for a clear winning margin over Kitchen.

Belgium’s Emmanuel Lejeune – 12th in the Elite Duathlon Champs last week – produced a storming run to make up a 53 second swim deficit to Nathan Breen (AUS) and take Gold by 10 seconds. The Aussie will go home with two medals, having also been the leading Under-23 athlete. Indeed, positions 2/3/4 overall were all filled by Under-23 entrants and separated by just five seconds at the finish line.

All of the reports and news from Fyn:

Fynske Bank ITU Multisports World Championship Festival – Thursday 12th July 2018
ITU Aquathlon World Championships, 1km / 5km

ELITE MEN

1st – Emmanuel Lejeune (BEL) – 27:47
2nd – Nathan Breen (AUS) – 27:57
3rd – Alexis Kardes (FRA) – 28:00

Congratulations Lejeune BEL #Fyn2018 #Aquathlon World Champion!
••#HighFiveFyn #sporteventDK #worldclass pic.twitter.com/IYJzbVjKOO

— TriathlonLIVE (@triathlonlive) July 12, 2018

ELITE WOMEN

1st – Edda Hannesdottir (ISL) – 31:15
2nd – Hannah Kitchen (GBR) – 32:03
3rd – Vida Medic (SRB) – 32:17

@hannah_kitch wins World Elite Silver in the Aquathlon Champs @tri247 @BritTri pic.twitter.com/UmJDpVDMmV

— Jez Cox (@JezCox) July 12, 2018

ELITE UNDER-23 MEN

1st – Nathan Breen (AUS) – 27:57
2nd – Alexis Kardes (FRA) – 28:00
3rd – Brady Goodyear (AUS) – 28:02

ELITE UNDER-23 WOMEN

1st – Sofiya Pryyma (UKR) – 32:37
2nd – Chloe Pollard (GBR) – 32:48
3rd – Maryna Sokolova (UKR) – 33:23

U23 Elite silver medal in the bag for last years world Champion @chloenpollard @BritTri @tri247 pic.twitter.com/5ZUeCd6fgu

— Jez Cox (@JezCox) July 12, 2018

JUNIOR MEN

1st – Valdemar Solok (DEN) – 29:17
2nd – Rahul Jegatheva (AUS) – 30:02
3rd – Šimon Koblizek (CZE) – 30:06

JUNIOR WOMEN

1st – Augusta Grønberg Christensen (DEN) – 32:27
2nd – Anastacia Damm (DEN) – 34:22
3rd – Pauline Feußner – 35:56

PARATRI

Gold – IaIn Dawson – PTVI (guided by Matt Ellis)
Silver – Mark Conway – PTWC