In a spectacular display of athletic prowess, Leonie Periault claimed victory at the Yokohama World Triathlon Championship Series on Saturday, finishing an impressive 36 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Taylor Knibb of the United States, who secured second place. Another French athlete, Emma Lombardi, clinched the bronze medal, trailing Periault by 40 seconds.
Periault, 29 years old, added a second World Triathlon Championship Series gold to her career achievements with a winning time of 01:52:28. Her stellar performance guarantees her a place at the upcoming Games, where she will join compatriot Lombardi on home soil.
Taylor Knibb had previously secured her Olympic qualification with a top-eight finish at last year’s Paris test event. However, her American teammate Taylor Spivey narrowly missed out on an Olympic spot, finishing just outside the podium in fourth place, followed by Kirsten Kasper in fifth position.
Gwen Jorgensen, a Rio Games gold medalist and double world champion, settled for 15th place, while Flora Duffy, the reigning Olympic champion, showcased her resilience by securing a commendable seventh place after overcoming injury setbacks.
Knibb demonstrated exceptional speed during the swimming segment, and Duffy staged an impressive comeback during the cycling leg, where Dutch athlete Maya Kingma encountered misfortune with a puncture towards the end of the fourth lap.
In the decisive running phase, Leonie Periault’s unmatched endurance and performance sealed her well-deserved victory in the Yokohama World Triathlon Championship, highlighting her status as a formidable contender in the triathlon world.
