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Austria's Allen sprints to gold
Kate Allen produced a stunning run to overhaul leader Loretta Harrop in the last 150 metres of the women's triathlon and win Austria's first gold at Athens.
Kate Allen produced a stunning run to overhaul long-time leader Loretta Harrop in the last 150 metres of the women's Olympic triathlon on Wednesday and win Austria's first gold medal at Athens.
The Australian-born 34-year-old, who became an Austrian citizen only two years ago, was one of the last out of the 1500 metre swim and completed the gruelling 40km bike leg in 28th place, 2:48 minutes behind Harrop, who had led from the start.
Australian Harrop, the 1999 world champion and runner up this year, appeared a certain winner as she pulled clear of a trio of Americans on the baking three-lap 10 km run.
But while others wilted Allen, ranked 41st in the world, found extra reserves of strength and speed.
She gradually carved her way through the field and when she got in sight of Harrop, poured on the pace, finally sweeping past the leader 150 metres from the finish to win gold for her adopted country in two hours, 4.43 minutes.
"Kate Allen ... belongs to the great ones in Athens," Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said in a statement on his website. "Her victory today was a tremendous success and certainly her personal triumph."
"We rejoice at this world class performance. In the name of all Austrians I heartily congratulate her."
Allen's 34.13-minute run was more than a minute faster than anyone else in the 50-woman field and crucially almost three minutes quicker than Harrop.
The heartbroken Australian, who has returned to the peak of competition after the tragic hit-and-run death of her younger brother two years ago, took silver 6.72 seconds down.
Susan Williams outran her world ranked one and two American team mates Barbara Lindquist and Sheila Taormina to take bronze a further 19 seconds back.
If the finish was unexpected the sea swim went exactly to plan as Harrop, Taormina -- a swimming gold medallist at the Atlanta Games -- and Lindquist, the current world number one emerged in front.
Others were only a few seconds behind but that proved vital as they were unable to latch onto the big three as they bombed the first bike kilometre towards the first stiff climb.
The 700 metre hill, an incline of 20 percent, had been billed as the defining aspect of the course and it immediately did some damage as Lindquist dropped off the pace leaving Taormina and Harrop to escape and open a 42-second lead at the end of the first of five laps.
LEAD STRETCHED
The American-Australian combination -- who finished 1-2 in this year's world championship -- ignored their nationalities to work as a team. After three laps they had stretched the lead over Lindquist and Williams to 48 seconds with the main chase pack of around 20 two and a half minutes down.
The technical nature of the course, including a lot of gear changing and cornering skills, made it difficult for the main pack to get organised.
It all changed on the last lap as Taormina dropped back to create a three-bike American train, leaving Harrop to plough on alone, eventually finishing 18 seconds ahead of the Americans.
The chase pack looked to have given themselves too much to do as they swept into the transition area 2.43 minutes off the pace.
But Allen, with the endurance that has brought her an ironman title, worked her way through the field before her finishing burst took her to a wonderfully unexpected gold.
