Congratulations Snowy!! Updated

Monday, 18 August 2008 04:06

Emma Snowsill fulfilled her triathlon destiny with a runaway win at the Beijing Olympics. With triathletes around Australia willing her to win, the three time World Champion checked off her missing title. In what was fast becoming a war of attrition Snowsill was the perfect survivor. She outwitted and outplayed the more fancied Vanessa Fernandes. Emma Moffatt had a brilliant day grabbing bronze. But all the talk will be about Snowsill having the race of her life. She was simply brilliant as she took the race on.

Snowsill finished the 1500-metre swim in fifth place among a tight pack at the head of the field, then cruised through the 40km bike leg among a leading pack of 20 competitors that contained all the big names.

The three-time world champion asserted her authority from the moment she racked her bike, making a smooth transition and starting her run aggressively. She had opened up a 39-second lead at the halfway point of the 10km run and went on to win by more than a minute. The 27-year-old’s dominance allowed her the luxury of being able to celebrate her victory down the home straight, wrapping herself in an Australian flag and giving high fives to a large contingent of supporters.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Snowsill at the post race press conference.

“I knew I had to get out on the run, coming down to that last lap I had to throw in whatever I had left. There is nothing like running scared.

“I had to make sure I didn’t leave anything out on that field. I put every ounce of energy I had into this race,” said Snowsill.

Moffatt, raised in Coffs Harbour and now based in Brisbane, was always among the leading group and began the run in seventh place. The 23-year-old worked her way through the field smoothly to eventually pass USA’s Laura Bennett and finish a comfortable third, 22 seconds behind Fernandes. Moffatt, who on the final loop of the run pumped her fists and gave Snowsill some words of encouragement as they crossed past each other, showed true grit to finish strongly.

"I was ready for the race of my life,” she said. “The conditions were perfect and I'm just so happy to be on the podium. To stand and listen to the Australian national anthem with Emma was just amazing - the happiest day of my life."

Australia’s third competitor, Melbourne-based Erin Densham, finished her swim at the back of the pack, but made up time with a solid ride and run to finish in 22nd place.

Beijing 2008 Olympic games – Women’s Triathlon

Gold – Emma Snowsill (AUS)
Silver – Vanessa Fernandes (POR)
Bronze – Emma Moffatt (AUS)
4th – Laura Bennett (USA)
5th – Juri Ide (JPN)
6th – Nicola Sprig (SUI)
7th – Daniela Ryf (SUI)
8th – Andrew Hewitt (NZL)
9th – Kiyomi Niwata (JPN)
10th – Debbie Tanner (NZL)