Just champion
Vicky Holland wins world triathlon
Great Britain’s Vicky Holland has been crowned triathlon world champion after finishing second in the season finale on the Gold Coast.
Holland crucially finished ahead of title rival Katie Zaferes of the United States to take the overall World Triathlon Series title.
The Olympic bronze medallist, 32, overhauled Zaferes during the final three kilometres of the run before coming home two seconds behind Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle.
“I can’t actually believe it,” said Holland. “I thought at one point of the run that it was done because there was quite a big gap there.
“I can’t believe I brought it back in. This season as a whole has been absolutely incredible with three wins, two seconds and now the world title.
“It is so much more than I thought I would get out of the year.”
And Holland admitted her victory had been after a tight race on the Gold Coast.
“A race like this is a war of attrition with the wind, so I just decided to back it off and pace my own run,” she said. “Katie has only been off the podium once this year and she is so strong across the board, swim, bike, run.
“It is really hard to beat someone who doesn’t have a weakness. I feel for her coming so close and being the leader most of the way through the year but I really wanted it and I am so delighted that I won it in the end.”
Holland has previously said that she considered retirement after the Rio Olympics but instead discovered a renewed motivation for her sport – one that has ended with a world title.
“If I’m honest, I wasn’t really thinking about it,” she said. “This season for me had always been about the Commonwealth Games.
“That was what I had planned for all winter, that was what I was training for. Since that point, things have just fallen into place and I’ve just really enjoyed my racing.”
And Zaferes paid tribute to her rival after the race.
“I am never surprised – the thing about Vicky is that she is a fighter to the end and I was just trying to fight as well,” she said.