Hayden Wilde surely loved finally treading the top step of a podium after a win over great rival Alex Yee, but he absolutely did not enjoy the process of getting there.
The brilliant 27-year-old from New Zealand is part of one of elite sport’s great rivalries – but too often in the past he has come off second best to British superstar Yee. Most recently in that epic battle for Olympics triathlon gold at Paris 2024, and then again at the first race of the new supertri season in Boston last Sunday.
Wilde gets revenge on rival Yee
Fast forward seven days to another barnstormer in Chicago, and it was Wilde gaining revenge as he stormed to victory with Yee trailing home in eighth – some 44 seconds adrift. The new Olympic king had struggled from the outset as he lost ground on the opening swim, and would never recover.
In the end it was Wilde beating France’s Léo Bergere and Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca in another terrific finish to claim the win. But he had been forced to curb his natural enthusiasm to go for broke. This was not the normal swashbuckling ‘Falcon’, with team tactics and the brutal heat leading to a more measured strategy.
Wilde admitted he had been worried about the heat going into Sunday’s race, with the memory of how he wilted in the dying stages in Paris having looked nailed on for Olympic gold still fresh. But he still hated having to race the way he did.
Loving the win, hating the racing
He said: “I’m super stoked to be back on the top of the podium, it’s been a long time.
“We talked with the team and I just had to do what I don’t do. I was an absolute pussy out there and I actually hated the racing as it’s not me, but the team needed the big points and it was a hot day.
“I was scared coming into today because of how Paris went in the heat.”
Yee vs Wilde heads for London
We don’t need to wait long for the next instalment in that thrilling Yee vs Wilde rivalry, and it will have added spice with it taking place on home soil for Alex.
There are now less than two weeks before the Olympic stars will battle again – this time in London on Sunday September 8.
Are we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
