World Triathlon Cup: Zaferes eyes Olympic farewell after Hong Kong redemption, Rainsley, Gonzalez claim first wins
- Great Britain’s Sian Rainsley and Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez Garcia triumph in sweltering Hong Kong
- Katie Zaferes takes silver and Kirsten Kasper bronze, and both have sights set on spot on US Olympics team in Paris
USA star Katie Zaferes rekindled hopes of an Olympic sign off for her glittering career, after finishing second in the Hong Kong leg of the World Triathlon Cup on Sunday.
The sweltering heat, with Hong Kong logging its hottest March day on record as temperatures reached 30.3 degrees Celsius (86.5 degrees Fahrenheit) just after midday, produced a couple of shocks too.
There was a surprise winner in the women’s race, with England’s Sian Rainsley, claiming her first World Cup triumph, while Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez Garcia sealed a maiden title as well.
Rainsley said she was inspired by an earlier silver medal for partner and fellow endurance athlete, Tom Bishop, at an Ironman 70.3 race in Geelong, Australia.
Zaferes’ fellow American, Kirsten Kasper, claimed bronze, and promptly declared herself “in the mix” for Olympic qualification.
There was a Spanish one-two in the men’s event, with Garcia leading home Antonio Serrat Seoane. Kenji Nener, the Japanese reigning Asian Games champion and world No 14, finished third.