- German triathletes win gold in mixed relay
The German triathletes sensationally won the gold medal in the mixed relay at the Olympic Games. The quartet of Tim Hellwig, Lisa Tertsch, Lasse Luhrs, and Laura Lindemann triumphed at the conclusion of the triathlon competitions in Paris, with the start and finish at the Pont Alexandre III.
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 eight years earlier in Sydney, Stephan Vuckovic won silver. In the individual competitions in Paris, the German triathletes had not yet secured a podium place.
Thrilling finish
The favored team from Olympic host France lost their medal chances due to a fall by starter Pierre le Corre after a collision with New Zealand's Hayden Wilde on the second lap of the bike course at an 180-degree turn.
The German team was in the medal fight from the start and engaged in a thrilling duel with Great Britain from the middle of the race. In the end, the U.S. team caught up, resulting in a dramatic three-way battle for gold, which Lindemann decided in favor of the German team on the finish line.
Three years ago in Tokyo, the mixed relay made its Olympic debut. In this competition, two women and two men each complete a triathlon consisting of 300 meters of swimming, 7 kilometers of cycling, and 1.8 kilometers of running. A total of 15 nations participated.
Competition on the brink
The scheduled conduct of the competition was long in doubt. After new test results showed improved water quality in the Seine within acceptable limits set by the world governing body, the green light was given just hours before the race start. This spared the organizers a second debacle like the men's triathlon, which was postponed by a day due to inadequate water quality.
In the days leading up to the event, the Seine's water quality had not met sufficient standards. Two swimming training sessions in the large Parisian river, where the first of three disciplines took place, were canceled. The cancellations led to criticism of the planning and organization of the event in the heart of Paris. In addition to the triathletes, open water swimmers are also scheduled to compete on the Seine section. However, the rowing course is also available as an alternative venue for them.
Other nations also participated in the mixed relay, with Italy and Sweden securing bronze and silver respectively. Despite the challenges with water quality, other open water swimming events were able to proceed smoothly.
