Lynch: Triathlon thriller will boost sport
An estimated 500,000 spectators watched the event play out against the backdrop of some of London’s most historic locations including Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace.
Ireland’s Aileen Morrison finished a disappointing 43rd as she struggled for momentum following a nasty spill early on the bike stage which resulted in a bloody arm and nasty friction burns. “I came down on the first lap,” she said. “It happened in slow motion. I could see my bike slipping from underneath me. I thought ‘if I can stand up and swing my leg over my bike then I’m going to keep going’. I swung my leg over, clipped in and kept going.”
Triathlon Ireland team manager Ken Lynch is convinced the sport in Ireland will reap the benefits of Saturday’s excitement.
“The coverage on Saturday, and interest at home, was hugely significant.
“It is a great feat to have two competitors qualified for the Games and is a testament to the work and efforts of Triathlon Ireland. There is a huge amount of talent in Ireland.
“There is terrific development talent on the way and there are a lot of people coming from other backgrounds like athletics, cycling and swimming into triathlon.
“They are good athletes in their own sport and there is no reason why they can’t transfer that into triathlon. There is no reason why we can’t build on the numbers competing for Ireland in future Olympic Games.”
Lynch, on secondment from the Institute of Sport to Triathlon Ireland, said Morrison was still feeling the effects of Saturday’s race last night. “She is a bit sore after going down on the bike, but was keen get back on the bike and to fight back as she did says so much about Aileen.”
There was an incredible finish to the event with Switzerland’s Nicola Spirig pipping Lisa Norden of Sweden after an amazing sprint down the final 200m.
Fifteen centimetres was the difference between gold and silver after almost two hours of racing.
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