Digital magazines from the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the World Triathlon Series
Issue link: http://worldtriathlon.uberflip.com/i/1392212
MEN'S REVIEW – AUGUST 19, 2008 BEIJING 2008 Reigning World Champion Javier Gomez went in as favourite, but as seen before in Olympic history, the way the men's race unfolded kept everyone guessing right until the end. While the pack stayed together in the swim, the tough and technical bike course saw a break. Mexico's Francisco Serrano, Luxemboug's Dirk Bockel, and Belgium's Axel Zeebroek pushed off the front and while Serrano dropped off, Bockel and Zeebroek took almost a minute lead into the run. It didn't prove enough to keep off the sport's top runners as a young Brit, Alistair Brownlee, helped to reel them in. Spain's Ivan Rana then attacked on the hill that lead back to the reservoir and only Gomez, Brownlee, Germany's Jan Frodeno, Canada's Simon Whitfield and New Zealand's Bevan Docherty went with him. But Rana faded, followed by Brownlee and Whitfield, seemingly leaving the medals to Gomez, Docherty and Frodeno. However Whitfield turned on his incredible finishing kick, regained touch and in the final 500 metres, took the lead. But in a thrilling final finishing chute rush, it was Frodeno who found the extra push to rocket past Whitfield and claim Olympic gold. It was, incredibly, his first ever ITU win. Whitfield held on for silver and Docherty for bronze – which was the second Olympic medal for each of them. OLYMPIC HISTORY REVIEW 138 - World Triathlon Media Guide Tokyo 2020 REPLAY on Olympic Channel