TRIATHLON:BLUNDER LEADS TO BATTLE FOR GOLD MEDAL

LITTLEHAMPTON triathlon athlete Daphne Belt has won another world championship, competing in France in the 65-69 female age group '“ but only after a bizarre battle with the French authorities.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Sep 2007, 16:45 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:25 BST

Her race, which involved a 3,000metre swim, 50-mile bike ride and a 20k run, started badly.

The 68-year-old had a poor swim but out on the bike felt better and had a good run. Husband Steve and the GB team manager shouted encouragement from various points and finally she was given a Union Flag to wave as she entered the finish area. Steve thought that she had won her age group 65-69.

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It is usual for results to be posted before the awards ceremony so corrections or complaints can be made but no results were posted and, in fact, were not sent out for several days.

Belt said: "At the awards ceremony I was completely ignored and the winner of my age group was announced as Grete Lange from Denmark who was not present to receive her medal. It was not until a senior BTA officer complained that I was grudgingly given the silver medal.

"When the results were at last emailed out, I immediately noticed that the woman shown as winner of my age group was listed as winner of the all age group women.

"She had recorded a faster bike time than the British elite woman Leanda Cave, who had won the female elite race and may well represent GB in the Olympics."

For full story to to find out what happened next, see West Sussx Gazette September 5

Related topics:FranceUnion Flag