- German triathletes race for gold in the mixed relay
Laura Lindemann was already smiling a few meters before the finish, then she collapsed exhausted to the ground after her golden final sprint and was celebrated by her teammates. The German triathletes surprisingly won the gold medal in the mixed relay at the Olympic Games in Paris, with the start and finish at the Pont Alexandre III, ahead of the USA and Great Britain.
The quartet of Tim Hellwig, Lisa Tertsch, Lasse Luhrs, and Lindemann triumphed at the end of the triathlon competitions in Paris. This is only the third Olympic medal for the German Triathlon Union in the Summer Games. In 2008, Jan Frodeno won gold in Beijing, and in 2000, Stephan Vuckovic won silver in Sydney. The German triathletes had not yet won a podium place in the individual competitions in Paris.
The French team, the favorite for the mixed relay, lost their medal chances due to a fall by Pierre le Corre on the second lap of the cycling course after a collision with New Zealand's Hayden Wilde at an 180-degree turn. In the end, the host country finished in fourth place.
The German team was in the medal fight from the start and had a thrilling duel with Great Britain in the middle of the race. In the end, the US team caught up, making it a dramatic three-way battle for gold. Lindemann decided the race with a strong final sprint on the home stretch, securing the gold medal for the German team.
The mixed relay made its Olympic debut only three years ago in Tokyo. In this event, two women and two men compete, each completing a triathlon consisting of 300 meters of swimming, 7 kilometers of cycling, and 1.8 kilometers of running. A total of 15 nations participated.
The competition was on the brink of cancellation due to doubts about the water quality in the Seine. However, new test results showed improved water quality within acceptable limits, allowing the event to go ahead just hours before the start. This prevented a second disaster like the men's triathlon, which was postponed by a day due to poor water quality.
In the days leading up to the event, the Seine's water quality had not met the required standards, leading to the cancellation of two swimming training sessions in the river. The postponements sparked criticism of the event's planning and organization. In addition to the triathletes, open water swimmers are also scheduled to compete on the Seine section. However, the rowing course could also serve as an alternative venue for them.
The German triathletes had not previously secured a podium place in the individual competitions in Paris, but their victory in the mixed relay was considered an 'other' significant achievement for the team. Despite being favorites, the French team's chances of winning the mixed relay were hampered by a fall during the cycling course.
