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Whitfield wins Olympic Men's triathlon gold

From Sports Illustrated • Photo Gallery: Images from the Games • Phil Taylor: No letdown for Dream Team • Grant Wahl: U.S., Chinese women produce another classic • E.M. Swift: Stars not aligned for U.S. female gymnasts • Brian Cazenueve: Swimmers cheer for their peers • Jack McCallum: Weightlifting -- A new game for Nott • Michael Farber: Baseball -- Neill has knack for big hits • Richard Hoffer: Watching triathlon is trying • SI For Women's Kelli Anderson: Edwards wants to go out on top | Thompson's chance at individual gold growing shorter • Medal Picks: SI's Predictions More Features • Head Games: Gary Payton • Just Checking In: Hammer Thrower Dawn Ellerbe • 10 Questions: Fencer Ann Marsh • Viewers' Guide: What to watch for • Day at a Glance: Bark with some bite • Wake-up Call: Tracking the day Athletes • Just Checkin' In: Softball pitcher Michele Smith • Athlete Bios: U.S. Rosters Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Making the cut • Photo Gallery: Shots of the Day • Multimedia Central: Photo Galleries, Video and More

SYDNEY, Sept 17 (AFP) - Canada's Simon Whitfield won the inaugural men's triathlon gold medal here Sunday with the silver medal going to Germany's Stephan Vuckovic and Jan Rehula of the Czech Republic taking the bronze.

Whitfield passed Vuckovic in the closing metres in a thrilling finish that matched Saturday's dramatic women's event for excitement with pre-race favourite Simon Lessing of Britain and France's reigning world champion Olivier Marceau finishing out of the medals.

The triathlon - a three discipline event with a 1500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10m run - is making its bow as an Olympic sport at Sydney and the women's race the previous day had been a thrilling finish with the outcome not decided until the closing 200 yards in the shadow of Sydney Opera House.

And the men's event proved equally compelling. When the final running section began, Marceau of France looked to have established a winning lead - at one point he was 30 seconds ahead.

But gradually he was reeled in and Vuckovic of Germany then looked the most likely to land gold leading into the final run-in.

But then Whitfield, a 25-year-old from Kingston, Ontario turned in a blistering finish to overhaul the German in the closing stages although the latter looked delighted with his silver, prancing with a German flag before crossing the line.

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