TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS – Women’s Triathlon: Gold for Flora Duffy, ahead of Taylor-Brown and Zaferes, Léonie Périault 5th

FLORA DUFFY ?? IS OUR NEW OLYMPIC CHAMPION!
What a run from the Bermudian to take the tape by over a minute & win the #Tokyo2020 gold she craved.
Georgia Taylor-Brown ?? overcomes a late puncture to earn silver, Katie Zaferes ?? with bronze!#Tokyo2020Triathlon #Triathlon pic.twitter.com/dkWQUA8lbB

— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) July 26, 2021

In Tokyo, Flora Duffy took gold. At 33, the Bermudian dominated the Olympic event and crossed the finish line solo. Georgia Taylor-Brown, who suffered a puncture just before the run, took the silver medal, and Katie Zaferes took the bronze medal. In hellish conditions, the French women missed their swim. Cassandre Beaugrand, 1’13 behind after the swim, abandoned in the first laps of the bike leg. Léonie Périault, 49 seconds behind after the swim, was patient on the bike and then put in a solid run to secure a very good 5th place.

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Race Summary

As usual, Great Britain’s Jessica Learmonth led the swim and set a high pace to create splits. At the end of the first 950m loop, she led six women: Victoria Lopes, Katie Zaferes, Summer Rappaport, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Flora Duffy, and Laura Lindemann. Léonie Périault was 14th at 30 seconds and Cassandre Beaugrand 26th at 51 seconds. In the second loop, Learmonth did not slow down and continued to apply pressure. At the end of the 1,500m swim, the seven women had a 30-second lead over the first chasers. Léonie Périault was 12th at 49 seconds and Cassandre Beaugrand, despite being an excellent swimmer, exited 24th at 1’13.

During the 1st bike lap, Learmonth continued her effort to maintain an intensive pace, well aided by Bermudian Flora Duffy. As they crossed the line, the lead group had increased its lead to 1’04 over a 2nd group of nine athletes, which included Léonie Périault. Far behind, Cassandre Beaugrand suffered a puncture and abandoned the Olympic race. At the end of the 2nd lap, the gap between the two groups was 1’10 and remained unchanged at the end of the 3rd. At the front, Rappaport dropped back, uncomfortable on this ultra-wet circuit, and Lopes also cracked. Taylor-Brown suffered a puncture just before returning to the bike park.

At T2, Learmonth, Lindemann, Zaferes, and Duffy started the run together. Very quickly, Duffy pulled away in the lead, Zaferes followed at a distance, then further back Lindemann, Learmonth, and Taylor-Brown. After one lap, Duffy had a 17-second lead over Zaferes, 26 over Taylor-Brown, 38 over Lindemann, and 44 over Learmonth. At the halfway point of the run, Duffy’s lead climbed to 47 seconds, then 1’07 after 3 laps, or 7.5 km. Léonie Périault, who had a very good run, moved up from the back and was in 4th place, accompanied by Rachel Klamer.

Untouchable today, Flora Duffy took gold and gave Bermuda its first Olympic title in history. Great Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown took silver and American Katie Zaferes took bronze. Léonie Périault took 5th place, beaten in a sprint by Rachel Klamer.