Australian para-triathlete icon Bill Chaffey says suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the sport's Paralympic debut at Rio will only make him hungrier for Tokyo in 2020.
The five-time world champion, who was widely fancied to take out gold in the inaugural event, missed out on the podium on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Jetze Plat of the Netherlands took the PT1 title at Copacabana beach and his compatriot Geert Schipper won silver, while Italy's Giovanni Achenza third and Chaffey fourth.
"I don't think I can have my only Paralympic race as a fourth position, so I've got to come back," Chaffey said.
"It's triathlon, it's in my blood."
Having competed in able-bodied or para-triathlons for 15 years, Chaffey's breakthrough Paralympic moment had been a long time in the making.
Five days before he was to contest his first Ironman triathlon in 2005, Chaffey was hit from behind by a truck while cycling, leaving him paralysed from the hips down.
The father of two said the disappointment from Rio won't stop him from doing what he loves.
"I'm proud that I've been flying the flag for para-triathlon from the start, which made me want this race much more... I've just got to get over this disappointment," he said.
There was no shortage of medals for the rest of the Australian camp on day three of competition.
Para-cyclist Amanda Reid posted a personal best time to claim the silver medal in the C1-2-3 500m time trial, while debutant Kyle Bridgwood came second in the C4 4km individual pursuit.
Fellow rookie Alistair Donohoe added to the tally with silver in the C5 individual pursuit.
Tasmanians Todd Hodgetts and Deon Kenzie shone in track and field, with Hodgetts bagging bronze in the F20 shot put and Kenzie winning silver in the T38 1500m.
London Paralympic champion Blake Cochrane failed to defend his crown against another world record-breaking swim by Colombian Carlos Serrano Zarate and had to settle for silver.
Another medal in the pool came from 15-year-old Tiffany Thomas-Kane, who won her second bronze of the meet in the women's S6 50m freestyle with an Oceania record.
