There was no fairy tale ending for Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell as they raced for the final time at the Olympic Games, their brave efforts ultimately fell short of the incredibly high standards set by the new generation in the sport with Alistair Brownlee winning from Spaniard Javier Gomez and the younger Brownlee brother Jonathan.

Docherty and Gemmell were prominent throughout though, performing strongly in the swim and emerging in a big chase pack on the bike to quickly close down an initial lead group that included the three medal winners to form a large lead group on the 40km circuit.

Once on to the run though, it was clear there would be no medals for New Zealand for two time medallist Docherty and his long time friend Gemmell, with the third Kiwi in the race Ryan Sissons off the pace after a troublesome swim.

“It is one of those things,” said Docherty, who came home in 12th place.

“I wasn’t suited to the course and another thing I just couldn’t get on top of my running form this year. I am fit though and I think it showed today, I guttsed it through, but I just wasn’t on my toes and it certainly showed on the run.”

Gemmell ran side by side with his long time rival and friend, but lost ground in the second half of the run to come home in 15th position, 17 seconds behind Docherty.

“It’s pretty hard this game, I had a dig, I’m happy I gave it a go. I tried to get away on the bike, I thought Vasiliev and I had a chance at one point on the bike but they weren’t willing to let anyone else go off the front.

“Then the first couple of kilometres on the run were pretty crazy, I tried to hang on but after that I was kind of stuck in one gear but we weren’t running slow, so I am happy to come to the Olympics and give my all, I couldn’t do that last time, so I can go away happy with that.”

Things just didn’t work out for 24 year old Ryan Sissons, who at least has the consolation of knowing that Rio in four years time will be when he is at the peak of his powers.

“The swim started off good up to the first buoy but I got tangled in the second buoy, there was a current pushing everyone into it and I was on the inside and found myself underneath the buoy and struggling to get some air.

“That pushed me into that second group and from then on it was always going to be a tough day from back there and I ran as hard as I could but there is no chance of making up a deficit like that with the guys that were in the front group. So it is disappointing as I was hoping for better, but that is the way it goes really.”

Andrea Hewitt’s partner and coach Laurent Vidal finished in 5th and the Frenchman acknowledged the Kiwi support in the stands.

“5th for the 49% Kiwi is not too bad, I was receiving so much support from the Kiwi fans and the man with the silver fern and bell shouting at me go go on the run, it was good.”

No one however was able to stay with Alistair Brownlee. Gomez tried and was a valiant second, losing contact with the flying Brit in the final few kilometres with the younger Brownlee having dropped away into third at the halfway stage.

Alistair Brownlee showed just how far the sport has developed, running an incredible 29:07 for the 10km, despite almost walking the final 50 metres draped in the Union Jack, the tears already flowing as the enormity of his achievement dawned on the 24 year old.

The leading athletes will now turn their attention on the ITU World Triathlon Series and the Grand Final hosted in Auckland over Labour Weekend. The Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Grand Final 2012 will host the best in the world with the World Championship title on the line.

It will also be a wonderful opportunity for New Zealand to farewell two of the best the sport has seen in standard distance racing over the past decade with two times Olympic medallist Docherty and two time Olympian Gemmell likely to move on from ITU racing at the end of this season.

For further information on this event, go to www.triauckland.co.nz

London Olympic Games
Men’s Triathlon
Gold                Alistair Brownlee                  GBR               1:46:25
Silver             Javier Gomez                        ESP                1:46:36
Bronze           Jonathan Brownlee             GBR               1:46:56
Plus NZers
12        Bevan Docherty                               NZL                1:48:35
15        Kris Gemmell                                  NZL                1:48:52
33        Ryan Sissons                                   NZL                1:50:27

For complete results, go to www.london2012.com

MULTISPORT
Multisport festival attracting athletes of all descriptions
Inspirational comebacks, elite stars, national champions, first-timers and fun-chasing families  - this year's Thermatech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival has got it all.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

RUNNING
2013 Nauti Travel Huntly Half Marathon
The 2013 Nauti Travel Huntly Half Marathon is once again taking place this Sunday for the 33rd time in what has become a race rich in history and 2013 provides much the same.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

RUNNING
Christchurch Airport Marathon - Return of the Champions
A healthy handful of past winners will go head to head at next week’s Christchurch Airport Marathon event.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

RUNNING
20th birthday celebrations set for iconic Taupo event
On Sunday 4th August a special birthday party will be taking to the streets of Taupo and everyone is invited!  The annual Mizuno Taupo Half Marathon will be celebrating its 20th birthday.

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Young North Canterbury rider top 10 in Mountain Bike World Cup
Young North Canterbury mountain biker Ben Oliver had an impressive start to his international career with a top-10 finish in the opening round of the UCI World Cup.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

CYCLING
Archbold scores first win for new pro team
BikeNZ Olympian Shane Archbold has taken no time to strike for his new professional team with victory in stage two of the An Post Ras Tour of Ireland today.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

TRIATHLON
Bozzone bounces back with race record win in Florida
The 2008 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Terenzo Bozzone has put his injury problems behind him with a comeback win in Florida today.

Monday, 20 May 2013

BMX
Walker excited as tickets go on sale for UCI BMX World Championships in Auckland
Fans will get their first chance to see the best BMX riders on the planet when Auckland hosts the 2013 UCI BMX World Championships on 24-28 July.

Monday, 20 May 2013

RUNNING
Camille Buscomb on track to qualify for 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
From Hamilton, Camille Buscomb is New Zealand’s leading female middle-distance athlete.

Monday, 13 May 2013

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Brook MacDonald 2013 The Search for Scree
New Zealand Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Brook MacDonald searches for some new and challenging scree.

Monday, 13 May 2013

TRIATHLON
Sisson looking for swim solutions to back his blistering run speed
Ryan Sissons knows what he is capable of and his 10km run split at the ITU World Triathlon Series race in Yokohama yesterday again hinted at it, but the 24 year old Aucklander is again cooling his heels after a less than satisfactory swim.

Monday, 13 May 2013

TRIATHLON
McIlroy holds on for top ten on a 'flat day' in Yokohama
Kate McIlroy made the most of a bad day at the office when finishing 9th at the latest round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama today, a result that leaves the Wellington athlete 7th in the overall series standings after three races.

Sunday, 12 May 2013

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