Vancouver, Canada (June 8, 2008) - Swiss Daniela Ryf was crowned the new under23 triathlon world championship in frigid conditions in Vancouver, Canada.
Ryf becomes the first Swiss triathlon world champion since 2001 and adds the world title to an already impressive breakthrough season in which she has climbed to number three in the world after her first career world cup podium in Madrid two weeks ago. American Jasmine Oeinck took silver for the second straight year while South Africa's Mari Rabie made triathlon history. With the bronze, Rabie became the first athlete from Africa to ever win a triathlon world championship medal.
"It was a great race, I'm so happy. It was amazing but it was so hard. It was a really hard race," said Ryf at the finish line.
Leading the women out of the water was Rabie, the reigning African champion, following closely by Oeinck, Inna Tsyganok of the Ukraine and Ryf. In the first of eight laps on the 40-kilometer bike course, Ryf, Rabie and Oeinck surged to a 49-second lead after the first lap. After the 15 kilometers, the gap ballooned to 2:09, and then swelled to almost three minutes after the fifth lap. By the end of the bike, three chase packs came together in pursuit of the leaders.
Rabie was first onto the 10-kilometer run course with a slim 6-second lead on Ryf. Oeinck struggled in T2 and left transition 22 seconds back of Rabie. But Ryf immediately took command and opened a 23-second lead and cruised to the finish line to win by a convincing 31-second margin of victory. Rabie was feeling pressure from Olesya Prystayko of the Ukraine but the South African managed to hang on for the final spot on the podium. In all it was a tough day for the women's field as only 19 women finished the race. At the start of the race the water temperature was a frosty 11.2 degrees Celsius with the air temperature at 10 degrees.
2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships Under23 Women - Official Results 1.5km swim, 40km swim, 10km run Gold - Daniela Ryf (SUI) 2:09:30 Silver - Jasmine Oeinck (USA) 2:10:02 Bronze - Mari Rabie (RSA) 2:11:35 4th - Olesya Prystayko (UKR) 2:12:51 5th - Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) 2:13:02 6th - Justine Whipple (USA) 2:13:08 7th - Yuliya Sapunova (UKR) 2:13:32 8th - Renata Koch (HUN) 2:13:55 9th - Sarah Fladung (GER) 2:14:25 10th - Kerry Spearing (CAN) 2:14:57
