Aussie Matt Hauser ended eight years of frustration by helping to put Australia back on top of the world in Hamburg.
Hauser reeled in a 20-second deficit to bring home the gold on Sunday after sterling work from team-mates Sophie Linn, Luke Willian and Emma Jeffcoat in the Mixed Relay.
It meant Australia were crowned World Champions for the first time since 2017 – and Hauser took to Instagram to celebrate their achievement.
‘Fighting spirit’
He posted: “Everybody loves a comeback story, Sea Biscuit, the mighty ducks, RDJ, Rocky, and Aus Triathlon in the MTR ‼️
“Couldn’t have asked for a better weekend, the team was fighting with spirit to stay in the hunt all day and I was fortunate enough to take the tape in the end. 8 years between drinks and Aus are world champs again!”
It was a brilliant weekend all round for Hauser, who also won the individual event to lead the WTCS standings after its fourth stop, taking a big step towards a first world title.
But Sunday’s team gold was a special moment. Dorian Coninx held a narrow lead out of T2 before Hauser’s charge, which left Coninx and his French team-mates Leonie Periault, Yanis Seguin and Cassandre Beaugrand having to settle for silver.
Defending champions Germany, with Henry Graf crossing the line to be embraced by team-mates Lisa Tertsch, Lasse Nygaard Priester and Tanja Neubert, took bronze.
“Ups and downs”
Hauser said: “This win means the bloody world to me and the whole team not just the ones on the Dais. Everything in life especially professional sport comes with its ups and downs, I’m so proud of our tenacity to keep striving for greatness throughout it all. Bring on Wollongong!!”
It was Australia’s first medal at the event since 2019, and their first gold since 2017, when Hauser was also involved, and it came after two Olympic cycles in which the team massively under-performed.
The Aussies finished a disappointing 12th at last year’s Games in Paris, and ninth in Tokyo.
