Olympic triathlon: Swiss' Spirig wins gold in photo finish

London, Aug 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Switzerland's Nicola Spirig won the Olympic women's triathlon here Saturday in a photo finish with Sweden's Lisa Norden.

Spirig and Norden both finished in a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 48 seconds, with a replay required to settle the gold in the closest ever Olympic women's triathlon finish.

Bronze went to Australia's Erin Densham, who finished just two seconds behind Spirig and Norden.

Britain's Helen Jenkins had been challenging for a medal but faded in the final stages and finished fifth, 31 seconds behind the leaders.

Three of the 55 competitors failed to finish, a retirement rate far below any previous Olympic women's triathlon.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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