Javier Gomez wins world triathlon title
Sunday 20 September 2015 11:32, UK
Spain's Javier Gomez won his third straight world triathlon championship after finishing second behind compatriot Mario Mola in the ITU World Triathlon Series finale.
Gomez and Mola traded the lead several times on the last lap of the run until Mola out-kicked Gomez over the final few hundred metres at Grant Park in downtown Chicago.
Mola finished the 1,500m swim in Lake Michigan, 40km bike ride and 10km run in 1 hour, 44 minutes, 53 seconds, coming in just four seconds ahead of Gomez. South Africa's Richard Murray was third in 1:45:35.
The finish was dramatic, with Gomez making a final bid to win.
Britain's Jonny Brownlee missed the event with a stress fracture in his right leg, while his brother Alistair is also currently out of action as he recovers from ankle surgery.
"I surged pretty fast and said, 'I'm going to give everything now and see what happens,'" Gomez said.
"But he was a bit stronger in the last 300 metres," Gomez said about Mola. "I just couldn't beat him. He was faster today."
But by that point in the race, with the two of them well out in front of the rest of the field, Gomez knew he had the title.
"I was happy with my title in my pocket when I was running shoulder by shoulder with him," Gomez said. "I still tried to win the race, but he was just stronger today and I'm happy with the second and happy with my fifth world title."
Mola finished second in the series standings, while France's Vincent Luis was third.
"When I have the opportunity to race side by side [with Gomez], it's always an amazing feeling," Mola said. "I was lucky to get this one, to win today, but ah, he's five times world champion."
Gomez is the first man to win three straight triathlon world championships and five overall. He also won in 2010 and 2008, making him the sport's dominant man over the last several years.
"I think I will need some time and probably some years to understand what I've done," Gomez said. "It's something that is amazing and I'm really proud of my career. I hope it's not the last one."
Gomez said he'll focus now on the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and a first Olympic gold medal.
American Gwen Jorgensen won the women's race Friday to take her second straight season championship.
