Launceston triathlete Jake Birtwhistle overcame oppressive heat, a bizarre false start and a suspected broken nose to finish 16th in his maiden Olympic race.
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The 26-year-old, whose training for the event ranged from a makeshift heat chamber at the Tasmanian Institute of Sport to an altitude camp in the Pyrenees, was still in contention at the second transition before the 30-degree temperatures at Odaiba Marine Park took their toll.
He finished 1:28 behind Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt's winning time of 1:45:04 with Brit Alex Yee claiming silver and Hayden Wilde, of New Zealand, bronze.
"It was all looking good - I just didn't quite have the legs on the run. I'm disappointed but I fought 'til the end with what I had and that was the best I could do," Birtwhistle said.
"You always feel pretty rubbish starting the run in a triathlon but I felt strong on the bike and stayed in pretty good positions. Did everything right up until that point but didn't quite have the legs when it mattered."
The former junior world champ and multiple World Triathlon Series winner was among the competitors who dived in at the start when an officials' boat was blocking the way for half the field, prompting a restart.
Birtwhistle received a stray foot to the face in the melee and may have sustained a broken nose.
"I could see the boat in the corner of my eye and thought this was pretty strange. They say the Olympics is a bit of a circus of a race compared to normal. It's a swim, bike and run but everything else around it is what adds the noise and that's a first for me."
The former Riverside Primary and High School student and Launceston Triathlon Club member thanked all those people following his progress in Tasmania.
"The support over this last week has been absolutely amazing. I've received so many messages and it makes you really appreciate that it's more than results that matter. It's good to have those kind of people on my side, they support me through the good and the bad and I'll need them now."
Birtwhistle was in 36th place after the 1500-metre swim, 35 seconds off the lead, was as high as third in a tight, technical 40km bike ride before beginning the 10km run in 12th, 16 seconds down.
His thoughts immediately turned to the newly-introduced mixed relay event, in which he anchored Australia to gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and will team up with Aaron Royle, Jaz Hedgeland and Ashleigh Gentle at 8.30am on Saturday.
"Obviously now the focus moves onto the relay but it's going to take a while to let the disappointment sink in," he told Channel Seven. "It's going to probably be three years of kicking myself until Paris but we've got another chance on Saturday in the relay and we've got a great team I think so let's hope Australia can deliver that day."
Triathlon Tasmania was among those quick to praise the efforts of an athlete who was a member of its development squad at age 13.
Executive officer Shellie Wakefield said: "Our triathlon community is extremely proud of Jake's achievements and excited to watch him achieve his dream of competing for Australia at the Olympic Games."
Beltz off the mark
Josh Beltz enjoyed a goal-scoring Olympic debut as fellow Hobartian Eddie Ockenden captained the Kookaburras to a thumping 7-1 win over India.
Beltz did not feature in the opening-round 5-3 win over Japan, but swiftly made amends with a stunning tomahawk strike in the second quarter.
The 26-year-old, who is closing in on 50 international appearances, had also won the penalty corner from which Daniel Beale gave Australia the lead.
In his fourth Olympics, Ockenden's expertise as a penalty corner stopper was again in high demand as Jeremy Hayward and Flynn Ogilvie also scored in the first half.
Beltz took over trapping responsibilities as Blake Govers converted two more penalty corners with Tim Brand completing the rout with an impressive solo effort.
The Kookaburras next face Argentina at 10.30am on Tuesday followed by New Zealand (Wednesday, 8pm) and Spain (Friday, 11am).
Atkinson in suspense
Nathaniel Atkinson was named player of the match in a 1-0 loss to Spain which leaves the Olyroos knowing a victory in their third group match will see them into the quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old Riverside Olympic product was immense at right-back as Graham Arnold's side looked to build on its 2-0 win over Argentina.
Mikel Oyarzabal, of La Liga club Real Sociedad, scored the only goal nine minutes from time for the tournament favourites.
A yellow card in the last minute of injury-time means Atkinson will miss the match against Egypt.
Melbourne City's A-League champion, who has played every minute of the tournament so far, had also been cautioned in the first match.
Australia sits second in Group C on three points and faces Egypt in its final fixture at Miyagi Stadium on Wednesday, at 8.30pm.
The story so far
- Nathaniel Atkinson (men's soccer): d Argentina 2-0, lt Spain 0-1
- Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz (men's hockey): d Japan 5-3, d India 7-1
- Sarah Hawe (rowing): women's eights, 3rd in heat
- Richie Porte (cycling): road race, 48th
- Daniel Watkins (paddling): C1, 16th in heat 1, 8th in heat 2
- Ariarne Titmus (swimming): 400m freestyle, 1st in heat, GOLD in final
- Jake Birtwhistle (triathlon): individual, 16th