Emma Snowsill claims Gold In an historic occasion for Irish Triathlon, Emma Davis, our first Olympic representative, today placed 37th in the Olympic Triathlon in Beijing. Please read on for a first report. Further details and photos will be available later on today. All photos used with kind permission of ITU media and television department.
Emma Davis made Irish Triathlon history today as she lined up with 55 other athletes at the Ming Tomb Reservoir at 10am Beijing time today. Emma has been through one of the toughest qualification routes to get to the start line, accomplishing in eight races and in one year what many other athletes have done in sixteen races and two years.
Conditions at the venue were good today, with a temperature of around 28 degrees, with humidity a little lower than the last week.
Despite a slow pace, the swim split the field into one long pack. Emma exited around 37th position, a bit down on where she would usually place for the swim. Within 10 seconds 40 women had emerged from transition 1. Emma made the third pack. The first pack attacked the hilly bike course, with the chase pack struggling to keep pace. Strong Swiss biker, Spirig, and Japanese athlete Ai Ueda were the only two to bridge from second to first pack. Many athletes in the first two packs dropped off the pace on the tough hills. in a courageous display of biking Emma moved up with a group of other riders into the second pack. The first pack of around 20 were around 2 minutes away and it didn’t look like the chasers were gaining any ground.
At the front of the field a few tried, unsuccessfully, to break away. The favourites, Snowsill and Fernandes, were keeping out of trouble and and eye on each other. The second pack had a crash, towards the back, which thankfully Emma was able to avoid. Coming into transition 2, Snowsill and Fernandes were out early, with Snowsill quickly setting a blistering pace. The chase pack, containing Emma Davis, came in just under two minutes down. Emma came out of transition 2 in 21st position, leading the chase pack of runners.
Snowsill quickly opened a gap, and Fernandes seemed to be struggling to respond. Snowsill increased the gap, dropping everyone. Fernandes rallied in the second half of the race, dropping her challengers, but not making an impact on Snowsill’s lead. Emma Moffatt had a comfortable hold on the bronze medal. Coming in the finish straight Snowsill had plenty of time to raise the Australian flag and accept the hand of her supporters. The emotion on her face summing up the magnitude of this victory. Snowsill took the line with almost a minute lead. Fernandes a comfortable second. Emma Moffatt rounding out an Australian dominated podium.
Emma Davis crossed the line in 37th position, her effort representative of her journey to Beijing, having given it her all. A great result at the age of 22, after a short time as a professional in the sport. A fantastic first Olympic representation for Ireland, and a solid foundation for the future.
Triathlon Ireland would like to congratulate Emma and her coach Richard Stannard on a fantastic accomplishment.
www.triathlonireland.com
