Australian triathlete Melissa Hauschildt has survived a crash on the bike leg to create history with her victory in the half-ironman world championship in Las Vegas.
The 30-year-old from Brisbane became the first woman to claim two wins in the championship - raced over the distance of a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km run - following her maiden victory on debut in 2011.
It was a scary moment though after coming down while leading with 3km remaining on the bike leg in Sunday's race.
"I just thought it was going to be all over. I would have a flat and there was no one around," said Hauschildt.
"I have crashed so many times on the right hip. The last two times I've done it I haven't been able to run."
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
It wasn't an issue this time as Hauschildt set the fastest bike and run splits on the way to a dominate victory in four hours, 20 minutes, .07 seconds, winning by five minutes from American Heather Jackson with fellow Australian Annabel Luxford third in her Ironman 70.3km world championship debut.
It marked an outstanding day for triathletes from Australia with Tasmanian Joe Gambles finishing third in the men's race behind repeat winner Sebastian Kienle of Germany and New Zealand's Terenzo Bozzone.
There were three Australians in the top seven with Tim Reed fifth and Leon Griffin seventh.
But Australia's three-time ironman world champion Craig Alexander had a tough day, finishing 19th after receiving a drafting penalty early in the bike leg.
"It was a frustrating day getting pinged for drafting 2km into the ride. Probably deserved it, no intent but looking down and not paying attention," Alexander said.
Hauschildt had a steady swim then powered through the field on the bike, on an unusually wet and humid day in Las Vegas.
"I wasn't confident of the win until I hit the downhill in the last kilometre on the run," she said.
"I could see I was gapping them but, you never know, all of a sudden you can bonk and you are walking home."
