Gwen Jorgensen confirmed her position as the pre-eminent woman triathlete of her generation when she raced to an emphatic Olympic triumph on the Copacabana seafront. 

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Jorgensen became the first defending world triathlon champion to win the Olympic crown the following year, as she dominated her rivals in the 10km run to win in 1hr 56mins 16sec, some 40 seconds clear of defending champion Nicola Spirig of Switzerland.

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Jorgensen said she and Spirig exchanged sporting banter during the run, which added an edge. "I never think you have a perfect race, it was a fun race for sure. Nicola was playing some games and it was fun to do that, and hopefully it made it more exciting for the fans too."

Jorgensen was asked by reporters if Spirig had said to her: 'I've got a medal and you don't'. "She did - and that was totally valid. I've now got one - and she's got two."

She said she knew that the rest of the field would try to drop her on the bike section: "I knew they were going to try to break away from me. I didn't want to be in that situation where I had to claw back time."

Gwen Jorgensen held her place oin the front pack of the bike section of the triathlon, and used her strength in the run to win the gold medal (Photo: Getty Images/Mattias Hangst)

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Sprint finish for bronze

A battle for the bronze materialised between two Britons, housemates in Leeds, England, with Vicky Holland eventually sprinting away from Non Stanford to pip her friend and make the podium, five seconds adrift of Spirig.

It was a sweet victory for the 30-year-old Jorgensen, a dominant figure on the triathlon circuit who had missed out on the chance of winning a medal in London 2012 when a puncture during the bike section ensured she could ony finish 38th.

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Starting the run in prime position, she destroyed her opponents in the style that has seen her break so many records in the sport. She has won more World Triathlon Series races than anyone and is the only woman to win the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final twice since its introduction in 2009.

Carolina Routier was the first out of the water after the 1.5km swim, although she was pursued closely by 18 athletes who quickly bunched up at the front of the bike section. 

Resilient on the bike

If Jorgensen was to be beaten, her rivals needed to ‘break’ her in the bike section because of her running prowess but despite the best efforts of Spirig, who pushed constantly at the front on the eight 4.8km laps, she was just where she wanted to be going into the 10km run, going through the transition in fourth place. Jorgensen soon led alongside Spirig and soon the two Britons were left in pursuit.

The medallists celebrate. From left: Nicola Spirig, Gwen Jorgensen, Vicky Holland (Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Rooney) 

The leading pair took a 20-second lead into the fourth and last of the 2.5km laps but with 2km left, Jorgensen made her move, and her elegant long-striding performance swiftly left the spirited 34-year-old Swiss trailing.

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