A bizarre pre-race injury has cruelled Melissa Hauschildt's bid for an unprecedented third 70.3 triathlon world title.
The Australian posted on Twitter that was forced to pull out of Sunday's race in Canada because of torn tendon in her chest.
Spanish ace Javier Gomez won his second world title in as many weeks and Swiss Daniela Ryf also continued her outstanding form when she took out the women's race.
Hauschildt was among the top 10 off the bike, but that was the end of her race at Mont-Tremblant in Quebec.
"Sorry to post a DNF today," Hauschildt messaged.
"Apparently massage therapist ripped pec tendon off bone wed night.
"Devastated. Can not believe it. Tried my best."
Hauschildt is one of four triathletes and the only woman to have won two 70.3, or half-Ironman, world titles since they were first held in 2006.
Joe Gambles, who was third last year, was the top Australian finisher in sixth.
Tim Reed took seventh and Annabel Luxford was 11th.
Gomez has confirmed he is the new force in men's long-course triathlon and there will be growing expectation in the sport about whether he makes the next step to Ironman-distance racing.
He won the 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km half-marathon race in three hours 41 minutes 30 seconds, posting a lightning-quick run split of one hour nine minutes.
Last weekend, Gomez joined British great Simon Lessing as the only men to win four ITU Olympic-distance world titles.
German Jan Frodeno, the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist, was second in 3:42:11 and British triathlete Tim Don clocked 3:44:38 for third.
Ryf's win caps a massive three months that features the European 70.3 title and a win at Ironman Copenhagen a fortnight ago.
She won in 4:09:19, with British triathlete Jodie Swallow next in 4:11.43, while Canadian Heather Wurtele posted 4:14:55 for third.
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