US’ Gwen Jorgensen takes Olympic gold in triathlon

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 21 (IANS) American Gwen Jorgensen lived up to predictions by taking the Olympic gold medal in the triathlon contested on the track laid out around Copacabana beach here.

The 30-year-old twice world champion on Saturday laid claim to further fame by coming in first after swimming 1,500 metres, cycling 40 kilometres and running another 10 kilometres on foot, Efe news agency reported.

Switzerland's Nicola Spirig, gold-medal winner in the 2012 London Olympics. took silver this time while Britain's Vicky Holland took the bronze.

The American crossed the finish line in a time of 1 hour, 56 minutes and 16 seconds, 40 seconds less than Spirig and 45 less than Holland, to win a race in which Chile's Barbara Riveros was fifth.