Docherty and Gemmell 12th and 15th in London – Sissons off the Pace

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