'Never seen that': Olympics triathlon rocked by 'horrendous' drama
The Tokyo Olympics were rocked by extraordinary scenes on Monday when half the field false started in the men's triathlon.
The event suffered a rare and embarrassing false start when half the field dived into the water before the other half.
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The ones who were left on the pontoon were blocked off by a boat, leading to some frantic action from associated craft to get the message over to the initially unaware swimmers.
Fifty-six men lined up on a pontoon in Tokyo Bay for the 6.30am local start.
But as the starter sent them away for the opening 1500 metre swim leg, around a third found their way blocked by a camera boat.
With those left on the pontoon stranded, a mini-flotilla of boats and jet skis flew into action to head off the group in the water.
More chaos at the troubled Tokyo Games. About half the field false start at the men's triathlon. A speedboat stopped them in their tracks after 150m. Poor officiating from the starter perhaps. Alex Yee and Jonny Brownlee are competing for Team GB pic.twitter.com/MdfXgguur2
— Rob Maul (@Rob_Maul) July 25, 2021
Around half of the athletes still ploughed on regardless, despite the alert horn sounding repeatedly.
Eventually two jet skis combined to stop the leaders.
They then returned slowly to the start having undergone a more vigorous 200 metre warmup than they would have liked.
The race eventually got underway safely around 10 minutes later, but the shocking scenes left commentators and fans stunned.
Aussie Olympian Tamsyn Lewis Manou described the start as "insane", while one commentator for BBC said it as a "shambles".
"I've never seen anything like this," he said.
"There was a boat in the way."
A commentator for Channel 7 said: "That is madness."
😮 that was something else! Never seen a triathlon false start, although I did once miss the start and jump in over the boat so they couldn’t stop me from racing 🙊 Come on Jonny! #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/Vek192tHkM
— Charlie Webster (@CharlieCW) July 25, 2021
I can’t believe there was a false start at the beginning of the men’s triathlon 🤦🏻♀️. Because of a boat. A BOAT!
Half of them were stuck behind. @NBCOlympics #triathalon— Chloe (@barmecide_cv) July 25, 2021
Wow triathlon a joke at Tokyo after a false start,when they nearly collided with a rib.then the commentator called Morgan Pearson.Morgan Freeman. LOL
— Mike southwell (@southwell_mike) July 25, 2021
Triathlon... oh go on then! Crazy false start!
Alarm set for 3.10 for @adam_peaty Loving the @Olympics #bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 #triatlon #AdamPeaty— Kelly Atherton (@kellyath44) July 25, 2021
Having caused a false start in the Triathlon, the boat carrying the camera crews has been much too close to the athletes throughout the swim @Tokyo2020 #Tokyo2020
— Paul Dalrymple 💙 (@pauldalrymple) July 25, 2021
What a horrendous false start there. + these boats are nice and close aren’t they 🥶 #OlympicGames #Triathlon
— Blak Island (@blakislandrun) July 25, 2021
Kristian Blummenfelt wins men's triathlon
Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt overcame the chaotic start to claim gold, while Australia finished well out of the medals.
Blummenfelt led home Briton Alex Yee, with Kiwi Hayden Wilde taking the bronze medal.
The World No.2 Blummenfelt broke away from Yee and Wilde late in the 10km run leg and charged to the line, winning by 11 seconds.
The best-finishing Australian was Tasmania's Jake Birtwhistle, who was 16th in his first Olympics.
Queensland's Matt Hauser, also making his Olympic debut, was 24th while Aaron Royle, from NSW was two places back in 26th.
French world champion Vincent Luis finished 13th.
with agencies
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