Yet again, Mixed Relay Triathlon did not disappoint as it produced a thrilling conclusion to the swim/bike/run action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
We had high drama and confusion both during and after a spectacular race which again played out in front of massive crowds in the centre of the French capital.
In the end it was Germany who got the best of a thrilling battle for gold as Laura Lindemann prevailed in a desperate finish with Taylor Knibb of the USA and Great Britain’s Beth Potter. Immediately after the race Britain were credited with silver, but after some confusion the official results gave it to the United States.
It was disaster meanwhile for hot favourites France, whose hopes of a medal died on the opening bike leg when Pierre Le Corre was brought down by Hayden Wilde after an unfortunate crash for New Zealand’s individual silver medallist.
It was a thrilling race, one full of spectacular moments and epic personal performances – everything that is good about triathlon and Mixed Relay. Let’s look in more detail at how it all finished up.
Full finishing order – Mixed Relay Triathlon
Olympic Games, Paris 2024 – Monday August 5 (300m swim/7km bike/1.8km run)
- 1. Germany – 1:25:39 (20:06, 22:41, 20:24, 22:28)
- 2. United States – 1:25:40 (20:19, 22:41, 20:27, 22:13)
- 3. Great Britain 1:25:40 (20:03, 22:45, 20:18, 22:34)
- 4. France – 1:26:47 (20:43, 22:59, 20:23, 22:42)
- 5. Portugal – 1:27:08 (20:16, 22:54, 20:16, 23:42)
- 6. Italy – 1:27:11 (20:11, 23:00, 20:16, 23:44)
- 7. Switzerland – 1:27:16 (20:08, 22:44, 20:47, 23:37)
- 8. Brazil – 1:27:23 (20:23, 22:44, 20:42, 23:34)
- 9. Spain – 1:27:30 (20:18, 22:42, 20:45, 23:45)
- 10. Netherlands – 1:27:37 (20:18, 22:59, 21:02, 23:18)
- 11. Norway – 1:27:40 (20:15, 22:57, 20:33, 23:55)
- 12. Australia – 1:28:50 (20:15, 24:39, 20:28, 23:28)
- 13. Mexico – 1:29:20 (20:34, 22:31, 21:45, 24:30)
- 14. New Zealand – 1:30:23 (20:34, 24:12, 20:48, 24:49)
- LAP – Austria (20:37, 25:27, 22:24, 00:00)
Fastest legs
This race, of all races, brings with it so much nuance that pure times can seldom be taken without a caveat or a pinch of salt. The dynamics of the MTR format, tactics and how the race plays out in terms of groups or individual all play such a key role.
With that in mind, the fastest legs on Monday were as follows:
- Leg 1: Alex Yee, GBR (20:03), Tim Hellwig, GER (20:06), Max Studer, SUI (20:08)
- Leg 2: Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal, MEX (22:31), Lisa Tertsch, GER (22:41), Taylor Spivey, USA (22:41)
- Leg 3: Vasco Vilaca, POR (20:16), Alessio Crociani, ITA (20:16), Sam Dickinson, GBR (20:18)
- Leg 4: Taylor Knibb, USA (22:13), Laura Lindemann, GER (22:28), Beth Potter, GBR (22:34)
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