Team GB had to eventually settle for bronze in the mixed really triathlon despite initially believing they had won silver at the climax of a thrilling race in Paris.
Alex Yee, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Sam Dickinson and Beth Potter were competing in the brilliant event for Great Britain, leading for much of the race.
Germany took the lead late in the contest, with Laura Lindemann impressively crossing the line first, but it was close as Potter and USA’s Taylor Knibb only just behind.
Potter and Knibb were neck and neck, so close together that it was impossible to say who crossed the line for silver with the naked eye.
It was quickly announced that Potter had pinched second place for Great Britain and the British team were interviewed as silver medallists, celebrating their great achievement.
However, shortly afterwards the footage was reviewed and silver was handed to USA, with Team GB having to settle for bronze instead.
Mike Cavendish, Performance Director for British Triathlon, told the BBC: ‘We thought it was silver, the display here showed it was silver.
‘When they come across the line the judges will look at a video still and it’s not the most accurate picture. Then it’s gone to the official photo finish and it’s shown that the Americans have got it by an absolute whisker ahead of us.
‘When it’s as close as that you’re always going to have to go to a photo finish. It’s relatively rare in triathlon that it goes to a photo finish, so that’s probably why it had to take a little bit longer and they have to put something up on screen.’
‘They might be a little bit disappointed from the silver but ultimately a bronze medal is an amazing achievement.
‘To be completely frank it was just a brilliant advert to have such a brilliant finish, a brilliant race. Coming down to three girls across the line pretty much all neck and neck is a brilliant advert for our sport.’
On whether Team GB may appeal the judgement, Cavendish added: ‘No, I’ve seen the photo, when you zoom in really, really close down to a 100th of a second it’s relatively clear. This is elite sport, we can’t be disappointed with a bronze medal.’
Team GB won medals in the relay and both the men’s and women’s individual triathlons (Picture: Getty Images)
After the race, Team GB hero Yee said: ‘I’m so proud of the team. What an amazing day for our sport, what a day.’
Dickinson added: ‘Very happy with that. Just a clinical relay performance from start to finish, no mistakes. It’s so important to be at the front in a relay as we saw today. I had full faith handing to Beth, she had the hardest leg and she smashed it.’
