Great Britain take Olympic triathlon bronze through Vicky Holland
Last Updated: 20/08/16 6:05pm
Vicky Holland edged out Great Britain team-mate Non Stanford in a sprint finish to earn a bronze medal in the women’s triathlon at the Olympic Games.
Gwen Jorgensen of the United States stormed to gold in a time of 1:56:16 with Switzerland's Nicola Spirig Hug finishing 40 seconds later to take silver.
That resulted in a sprint down the home straight between Team GB's two representatives, with the bronze medal at stake, and Holland had more left in the tank, finishing 48 seconds behind first place and five seconds behind third.
Holland waited until the final 100 metres to put in her kick and become the first British woman to win a medal in triathlon.
A devastated Stanford collapsed in a heap on the floor before the pair shared an emotional embrace
Holland told BBC: "I can't describe it. I've had a roller-coaster 24 hours, I've been a bit sick and didn't know how I would feel today.
"I knew it would come down to me and Non which was the worst thing ever because I wanted this to be us together. I think the first thing I said was 'I'm so sorry'.
"What can you do when there were two better girls on the day?
"I kept thinking it's going to be one of us and I have to put it out of my mind that we're best mates and housemates."
Stanford said: "I don't think I could've asked much more of myself. Maybe I didn't play it tactically quite right but, you know, I'm delighted for Vicky and even though fourth at the Olympic Games is probably the worst place to come it's still fourth at the Olympic Games."
