British Triathletes Disqualified After Crossing Finish Together Hand-in-Hand – runnersworld.com

• The top two finishers at the 2019 World Triathlon Olympic Qualification Event were disqualified after finishing together, hand-in-hand, on Thursday, August 15.
• According to International Triathlon Union rules, athletes must make an attempt at winning when a finish is neck and neck.
• As a result, Bermudan Flora Duffy took first in the event.

Two British triathletes who were the first and second to cross the line during the 2019 World Triathlon Olympic Qualification Event did not go home with gold and silver honors. Instead, they were disqualified shortly after the race, since they finished together hand-in-hand.

The event in Tokyo on August 15 was mainly held to see how athletes will fare in what are expected to be extremely hot and humid conditions during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Because of the heat, the running portion of the event was cut in half from a 10K to a 5K.

The athletes certainly felt it as they competed, but British triathletes Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown dominated most of the race. When they reached the final stretch, they were neck and neck, .

The two slowed down and crossed the line together, hand-in-hand, neither making an attempt to take the victory.

Though the finish was heartwarming, race officials met immediately following the race to discuss the official effects of it. Learmonth appeared to cross the line first based on a photo finish, but when officials looked to the rulebook, they discovered International Triathlon Union (ITU) rule 2.11.f that states, “Athletes who finish in a contrived tie situation, where no effort to separate their finish times has been made, will be disqualified,” according to the release.

As a result, both athletes were disqualified and forfeited their podium finishes and Olympic qualifications. Both athletes contested the decision, but it was overruled.

“[I] feel we showcased our sport in the right way, hopefully showing young athletes it’s not always dog-eat-dog,” Learmonth wrote in an Instagram post after the race.

Thus, Flora Duffy of Bermuda took home the gold with a time 1:40:19, followed by Alice Betto, of Italy (1:40:54), and Vicky Holland of Great Britain (1:41:11).

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There is still hope for both competitors to make the Olympics next year. British Triathlon will ultimately pick three men and women for the team.

“It’s obviously disappointing to have Jess and Georgia disqualified, but it’s a testament to the depth of our female squad that we still have another athlete on the podium,” said British Triathlon National Performance Director Mark Cavendish in a press release. “What the athletes delivered today has told us a lot ahead of next year, and to have five athletes in the top 11 is great.”

Gear & News Editor Drew covers a variety of subjects for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand.