Helle Frederiksen dominates run to collect Bahrain win

Fourth-place finisher at this year’s Ironman Worlds, GB’s Jodie Swallow came to the desert with victory on her mind. Flying under the radar in the event lead-up, Swallow was always going to be a threat on the middle-distance course. Predictably she rocketed out of the swim in 22:39mins, taking the lead throughout the majority of the 90km bike, until the last few kms when ITU athlete Annable Luxford (AUS) pipped her into T2.

Joining the leading duo was Denmark’s Helle Frederiksen in third and GB’s Rachel Joyce in fourth. The same quartet would exit T2 together, but it was Frederiksen who shot to the front, as Swallow retained her second place and Luxford and Joyce faded.

Halfway through and Joyce had managed to retain third place, some 3mins off Frederiksen, as Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) took up fourth place a further minute behind.

But it was to be Frederiksen’s days as the young Dane pulled out a 2min advantage over the chasing Brits to win in 4:49hrs.

Within the closing kilometres, Joyce took second from Swallow, positions the Brit duo would retain to the line.

Pics and quotes from the Brits to follow…

(Image: Getty)

Liz Barrett Freelance sports journalist, copyriter and editor

About

Former 220 deputy editor Liz Barrett started work on the magazine in 2007 as staff writer. During her 18 years with the brand, she reported live from almost every major triathlon across the globe, including the Ironman World Championship, the 70.3 World Championship, six World Triathlon Grand Finals, Challenge Roth, the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, the London and Paris Olympics and the Rio Paralympics, to name but a few. Name a pro and chances are she’ll have interviewed them, so, unsurprisingly, she’s still our go-to pro-athlete expert. She now works as a freelance journalist, copywriter and editor.