All hail Hauser: Aussie wins world triathlon top gong
Joanna Guelas |
World No.1 Matt Hauser has lauded a raucous home crowd that helped the Australian power to a rousing victory in the triathlon’s world championship series, saying he couldn’t hear himself breathe.
The two-time Olympian never relented across Sunday’s 1.5km swim, 40km cycle, and 10km run event in Wollongong and won gold by a monster 34 seconds.
The 27-year-old finished the gruelling course in one hour 42.42 minutes to end a 15-year drought for Australia.
Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo claimed silver, while Italian Alessio Crociani was a further seven seconds behind in third.
Hauser, in tears at the finish line, secures his first series crown with 4250 points after a career-best season.
After a seventh-placed finish at the Paris Olympics last year, the Queensland local finishes this season with four gold medals across eight races.
The 27-year-old joins Emma Moffatt as the only Australians to win an Olympic-distance world title since the championship became a series in 2009.
He is also the first Australian man to win the world series, after Pete Robertson won in 2005 when the world title was decided by a one-off race.
Hauser will turn his attention to becoming the first Australian male to win an Olympic triathlon medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“I was tossing and turning with emotion this week,” Hauser said.
“It’s been a big last 12 months since Paris, and I’ve had my sights set on this ever since I crossed the finish line there.
“My family and friends all drove down to come and support me and see this, so I can’t wait to enjoy a beer with them tonight.”
Luke Willian was Australia’s next best, finishing 16th out of the 52 athletes while Brandon Copeland was 33rd and Callum McClusky 35th.
Hauser received a crowd-sung rendition of the national anthem at the medal ceremony, with his victory marking the series’ return to Australia for the first time since the 2018 Gold Coast final in style.
“I was just pushed on by the public,” Hauser said.
“I couldn’t even hear myself breathe, honestly.
“I was just trying to stay locked in and focused, but it was very hard not to soak it up.”
Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo finishes the series as runner-up after placing fourth on Sunday, while Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca was fifth in the race and third overall.
Germany’s Lisa Tertsch triumphed in the women’s final as reigning Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand failed to finish.
Tertsch finished in one hour 56.50 minutes to win her maiden crown, ahead of silver medallist Lisa Seregni and third-placed Emma Lombardi.
The women’s series had shaped as a two-horse race between defending champion Beaugrand and Beth Potter, who had entered as equal series leaders on 2925 points.
But a struggling Beaugrand began to tumble down the order early in the run, before Great Britain’s Potter dropped out of contention on lap three of four.
While Beaugrand did not complete the Olympic distance course and dropped to seventh in the standings, Potter finished 16th and is third overall.
Sophie Linn was Australia’s best female and finished 18th out of 39 starters, ahead of teammate Emma Jeffcoat (29th).
Lauren Parker clinched another medal for Australia after finishing second in the Para Mixed Relay, with the USA taking gold.
After claiming her fifth paratriathlon world title the day before, Parker combined with Jack Howell, Jeremy Peacock and Maggie Sandles – with guide Lauren Sprague – to win silver ahead of Brazil.
AAP
