Aug. 5 (UPI) — Taylor Knibb clocked the fastest split of any athlete on the final leg to help Team USA climb from fifth place to the podium in the mixed triathlon relay at the Summer Olympics on Monday in Paris.
The Americans registered a time of 1:25:40, just behind first-place Germany (1:25:39). Knibb beat Great Britain’s Beth Potter in the final leg — a 1.2-mile sprint — in a photo finish.
Announcers for the event first listed Great Britain as the second-place finisher, but officials ruled that Knibb crossed the finish line before Potter, giving Team USA its 72nd medal of Paris 2024.
The Americans, who won 10 medals Sunday, have totaled 27 silver, 19 gold and 26 bronze prizes so far in Paris.
American Seth Rider competed in the first leg of Monday’s mixed triathlon relay. He was fourth in the 300-meter swim, 11th in the 4.2-mile biking portion and ninth in the run.
Taylor Spivey then was seventh in the swim, third on bike and fourth in the run for the second-best time of the second leg.
Morgan Pearson was Team USA’s third-leg athlete. He was 10th in the swim, third on bike and second in the run. Knibby then was first in the swim and on bike. She was third in the run for an overall time of 22:13.
