Stanford is superb as Wales claim shock silver
NON Stanford rolled back the years as she led Wales to a superb silver medal in the mixed relay triathlon.
Stanford, the Swansea star who won the world title back in 2013, delivered on the big stage once again as Wales found only red-hot favourites England too good.
Stanford beat Australian Sophie Linn in a sprint finish for the silver medal. Stanford took on the final leg for the Welsh quartet, which included Iestyn Harrett, Olivia Mathias and Dominic Coy.
“I’m over the moon,” said Stanford, one of triathlon’s most popular characters who is in what is set to be the final year of her career.
“I think we are all in disbelief but also so excited.
“We knew we had a shot at the podium if we all had perfect legs, but I don’t think any of us can believe we got silver.”
Team-mate Coy added: “The cheering and all that noise the whole way round helped me push all the way to the finish.”
With men’s champion Alex Yee and women’s silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown in the line-up, this was England’s race to lose and along with Sophie Coldwell and Sam Dickinson they were faultless from gun to tape for a 46-second victory.
No controversies here, just a slight post-race disagreement between Yee and girlfriend Olivia Matthias. She believed that medal meant they could get a dog, Yee wasn’t quite so sure.
“We never shook on that, perhaps after Paris,” he joked.
“So much can happen in an hour of triathlon racing. We just wanted to keep things as clean as possible and stay positive through the race.
“I just wanted to give the guys as much of a lead as I could and I knew we were in good hands after that.
“We’ve just moved home and Liv and I can put our medals together in pride of place.”
What about a dog? “Not yet,” he added.