Australian triathlete Sarah Crowley has continued her breakthrough season with a third place at the Hawaii Ironman world championships won for a third straight time by Daniela Ryf.
Crowley stalked Ryf for the 3.8km swim and three-quarters of the 180km bike before the Swiss star put her foot down on the 42.2km run to triumph in a time of eight hours, 50 minutes and 47 seconds.
Britain's Lucy Charles was 8:51 behind in second while Crowley (9:01:38) - who fell off her bike - was another minute further back in typically hot and humid Kona conditions on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
It was an excellent day for the Australian women, with three finishers in the top 10.
Carrie Lester (9:19:49) was seventh and Annabel Luxford (9:20:58) ninth.
Crowley has two Ironman-distance titles in 2017, less than two years after swapping her corporate job for professional triathlon.
They were heavyweight victories too - both regional championship wins - at Ironman Cairns in June and Ironman Frankfurt only a month later.
She also claimed the ITU long-course world title in August when she outclassed the field in Pentiction, Canada.
Australia's three-time Hawaii Ironman champion Mirinda Carfrae, who wasn't racing in Kona this year after giving birth to a baby girl only seven weeks ago, backed Crowley for a podium finish and she didn't disappoint.
Brisbane-based Crowley did well to compose herself after falling off her bike near Kawaihae and taking some skin off her arms.
"I had to make a split decision as to whether I keep going or not," Crowley said.
"Annabel Luxford called out 'Sarah, get up!'
"It shocked me a bit and I was in a bit of pain too."
Given Crowley's improvement since placing 15th on debut in 2016, the 34-year-old is well positioned to push the classy Ryf even harder next year.
As is Charles, who at the age of 24 has many good years ahead and unexpectedly put Ryf under plenty of pressure while leading for most of the cycle leg along the Queen K highway.
"It was the hardest I had to ever fight for the win," Ryf said.
"I'm so happy to turn it around today."
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