France’s Leonie Periault secured a notable victory at the Yokohama World Triathlon Championship Series on Saturday, claiming first place with a comfortable lead of 36 seconds over the United States’ Taylor Knibb, who finished second.
She also came in 40 seconds ahead of her compatriot Emma Lombardi, who secured the bronze medal.
At 29 years old, Periault added another milestone to her career by clinching her second World Triathlon Championship Series gold, clocking in at 01:52:28.
She is set to represent her country at the forthcoming Games alongside 22-year-old Lombardi, who had previously secured her spot with an impressive performance at the Paris test event in August the previous year.
Taylor Spivey of the United States narrowly missed out on an Olympic berth by finishing fourth, while her teammate Kirsten Kasper claimed fifth place.
Gwen Jorgensen, a two-time world champion and participant in the Rio Games, finished in 15th place, while Flora Duffy, the reigning Olympic champion who had been contending with injury, displayed a strong comeback by securing seventh place.
Knibb set a demanding pace during the swimming segment, while Duffy showcased her resilience during the cycling leg, where Dutch athlete Maya Kingma faced setbacks due to a puncture towards the end of lap four.
During the running course, Periault demonstrated her dominance, leaving her competitors behind. Lombardi put up a valiant effort to maintain pace for a significant duration but eventually fell behind in the final stretch.
Overall, the event showcased impressive performances from athletes across various nations, highlighting the competitive spirit and determination inherent in the world of triathlon.
Main Image: Leonie Periault, via Facebook.
Click here for more on Paris Olympics 2024 at EU Today
Click here to check out EU TODAY’S SPORTS PAGE!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
