Comeback queen Emma Moffatt lived up to her billing as one of the world’s best triathletes with a superb third place-finish at the ITU World Championships series event in Sydney on 11 April.

Moffatt led the five-strong Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) contingent (three women and two men) into action at the 2000 Sydney Olympic venue, and despite being under an injury cloud coming into the event, almost won the first race she had entered in seven months.

Moffatt broke her shoulder during a training mishap on the Gold Coast two months ago and only passed a late fitness assessment to enter Sunday’s race.

The plucky 25-year-old, whose achievements include an Olympic bronze medal and becoming world champion in 2009, pushed winner Barbara Riveros Diaz of Chile, all the way on the 10 kilometre run leg before succumbing the final 200 metres, with New Zealander Andrea Hewitt pipping Moffatt for second place. The three medallists all finished within one second of each other.

Moffatt emerged from the 1.5 kilometre swim leg mid pack, before picking her way through the field in the bike leg to be amongst the lead group heading into the final transition.

Despite finishing third, Moffatt said the result was beyond her expectations coming into the race.
‘I can't quite believe it. I am just so happy,’ Moffatt said.

‘I was a bit surprised that my swim went so well,’ Moffatt said. ‘It was good to get out with the group. That helped me settle into a comfortable pace on the bike.

‘You have to be a tough racer, particularly in this series if you want to go well.’

Fellow AIS athletes Felicity Abram (11th) and Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (28th) finished back in the pack, while in the men’s event, Brad Kahlefeldt (11th) and James Seear (13th) were slightly off the pace as New Zealand’s Bevan Docherty claimed the victory.

The next leg of the ITU World Championship series will be held on 8 May in Seoul, Korea.

The AIS is a major partner in the Triathlon Australia high performance program.