In six editions, triathlon has become as interlaced into Olympic tradition as the Games’ famous rings. If the vision of Pierre de Coubertin, its modern founding father, was for ‘stronger, higher, faster’ competition, then multisport has delivered in spades.
After the Paris Games, at the end of July this year, triathlon will have been awarded a total of 66 medals (we’re including the four medals for each mixed team relay squad). But who’s been lucky enough to have bowed their head atop the most coveted podium in triathlon?
Here’s every triathlete who’s medalled at an Olympic Games to date…
Which triathletes have medalled at the Olympic Games?
SYDNEY, 2000
Against the backdrop of the famous Opera House, the stage was set for home triumph with Australia’s exceptional women’s line-up headed by Michellie Jones.
But in an agonising sprint finish, it’d be Brigette McMahon who’d take the tape. For many, it was a regrettable victory after the Swiss failed a drugs test in 2005, testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO).
In the men’s race, Simon Whitfield rounded Germany’s Stephan Vuckovic in the final sweeping corner to win gold. He also took the honour of being Canada’s flagbearer at the closing ceremony.
Men
1. Simon Whitfield, CAN 1:48:24
2. Stefan Vuckovic, GER 1:48:37
3. Jan Rehula, CZE 1:48:45
Women
1. Brigitte McMahon, SUI 2:00:39
2. Michellie Jones, AUS 2:00:41
3. Magali Di Marco Messmer, SUI 2:01:07
ATHENS, 2004
A brute of a course in a seaside suburb of the Greek capital was dominated by the Kiwi men, with a one-two for Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty.
There was also surprise success for Austria’s Australian-born Kate Allen in the women’s event. It wasn’t just the victory, but the manner of it. The 34-year-old passed 27 competitors on the final leg as she ran 3mins faster than Loretta Harrop to overtake her former compatriot with the finish line in sight and become the oldest Olympic triathlon champion to date.
Men
1. Hamish Carter, NZL 1:51:06
2. Bevan Docherty, NZL 1:51:14
3. Sven Riederer, SUI 1:51:32
Women
1. Kate Allen, AUT 2:04:43
2. Loretta Harrop, AUS 2:04:50
3. Susan Williams, USA 2:05:08
BEIJING, 2008
After two medals in previous Olympics, Australia’s women finally reached the top step of the podium courtesy of the fleet-footed Emma Snowsill, reversing the result of the test event the previous year when Portugal’s Vanessa Fernandes won out.
“If it came down to the run, Emma was in a class of her own,” GB's Helen Jenkins, who came 21st recalls.
Germany’s Jan Frodeno was also too quick in the final reckoning as previous medallists Simon Whitfield and Bevan Docherty returned to the podium with silver and bronze. The winners tied the knot five years later.
Men
1. Jan Frodeno, GER 1:48:52
2. Simon Whitfield, CAN 1:48:58
3. Bevan Docherty, NZL 1:49:05
Women
1. Emma Snowsill, AUS 1:58:26
2. Vanessa Fernandes, POR 1:59:33
3. Emma Moffatt, AUS 1:59:55
LONDON, 2012
British triathlon’s golden moment and one that the sport, on these isles, is unlikely ever to top. The Brownlee brothers’ charge to gold and bronze in front of a six-figure crowd in Hyde Park was not without drama.
Alistair was injured in the build-up, Jonny picked up a 15sec penalty out of transition and arch-nemesis Javier Gomez dug in until the final throes to split the duo for silver.
The women’s race was almost a dead heat as Nicola Spirig was awarded gold ahead of Sweden’s Lisa Norden. The margin of victory? 15cm.
Men
1. Alistair Brownlee, GBR 1:46:25
2. Javier Gomez Noya, ESP 1:46:36
3. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR 1:46:56
Women
1. Nicola Spirig, SUI 1:59:48
2. Lisa Norden, SWE 1:59:48
3. Erin Densham, AUS 1:59:50
RIO, 2016
Vicky Holland delivered Britain’s first female tri medal as she outkicked housemate Non Stanford for bronze. The stretch of the Copacabana also belonged to the USA’s Gwen Jorgensen, winning a first triathlon gold for the USA.
The Brownlees showed they still had the measure of the rest of the world, upgrading to gold and silver as the breakaway tactics played out to perfection.
Men
1. Alistair Brownlee, GBR 1:45:01
2. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR 1:45:07
3. Henri Schoeman, RSA 1:45:43
Women
1. Gwen Jorgensen, USA 1:56:16
2. Nicola Spirig, SUI 1:56:56
3. Vicky Holland, GBR 1:57:01
TOKYO, 2021
After much deliberation and external pressure, the decision to delay the Olympics for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic became inevitable. As did the events taking place with almost zero crowds or media in attendance.
In the men’s race, Norway took its first Olympic triathlon medal thanks to an epic display of strength and stamina from Kristian Blummenfelt, who pulled ahead in the final few hundred metres to take gold ahead of GB’s Alex Yee, who was racing in his first Games. Fellow debutante New Zealand's Hayden Wilde collected bronze.
Pre-race favourite Flora Duffy put 16 months of injury and illness behind her when she became Bermuda’s first Olympic champion in a dominant display from start to finish.
Georgia Taylor-Brown, who fought back from a puncture 2km from T2, collected Team GB's first women’s triathlon silver; while the USA’s Katie Zaferes rediscovered her podium-placing form to win bronze.
Five days later, Yee and Taylor-Brown added gold to their Tokyo tally as part of the first Olympic Games mixed team relay-winning quartet.
It also meant a record-breaking third Olympic medal for Jonny Brownlee, who, after bronze in London 2012, and silver in Rio 2016 became the first triathlete to win three Olympic medals.
Men
1. Kristian Blummenfelt, NOR 1:45:04
2. Alex Yee, GBR 1:45:15
3. Hayden Wilde, NZL 1:45:24
Women
1. Flora Duffy, BER 1:55:36
2. Georgia Taylor-Brown, GBR 1:56:50
3. Katie Zaferes, USA 1:57:03
Mixed Team Relay
1. Team Great Britain 1:23:41
Jonathan Brownlee
Georgia Taylor-Brown
Alex Yee
2. Team United States 1:23:55
Katie Zaferes
Kevin McDowell
Morgan Pearson
3. Team France 1:24:04
Top image credit: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images
