The Games of the XXVII Olympiad took place in Sydney, Australia from 15 September - 1 October 2000 with The Paralympic Games taking place 18 - 29 October 2000.

The much anticipated Olympic debut of triathlon was staged amidst the stunning backdrop of Sydney’s famed opera house and was punctuated by a pair of surprise winners in stunning upsets. Not only did triathlon announce its arrival to the world, the sport was given the honour of being one of the first events of the Sydney Olympics.

Women's Race

On day one of competition, 50 women dove into Farm Cove, the inlet just east of the Opera House, off a pontoon lined with photographers eager for this historic race.  All eyes were on Aussie Michellie Jones, the heavy pre-race favorite who won the test event just five months earlier.  As the women began the first Olympic triathlon in history, American Sheila Taormina set the early pace in the swim, emerging from the water almost 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.  But the former swimmer couldn’t hold the lead through the entire bike leg and by the time the women headed onto the run course, Jones was out in front, much to the delight of the Australian faithful. 

However, gold for the home team didn’t come as expected and predicted.  Instead, it was Swiss Brigitte McMahon who sprinted down the home stretch, past the Opera House and into history as triathlon’s first Olympic gold medalist.  Jones settled for silver, just two heartbreaking seconds behind McMahon.  Magali Messmer made it a banner day for Switzerland, taking the bronze.  All three women were on the podium together at the Sydney ITU Triathlon World Cup on April 16 which was contested on the same course.  American Joanna Zeiger finished in fourth place while Loretta Harrop of Australia rounded out the top five.

Click here for full women’s results.

Men's Race

After the world caught its breath and properly digested the colossal upset of the women’s race, 50 men tackled the same course the next day in search of Olympic glory.  Australian hopes lay with Miles Stewart and Peter Robertson, who, like Jones, also won the test event in April.  But it was another Aussie, Craig Walton, who had the locals cheering as he led the men out of the water.  Right on his heels were a pair of men many predicted would clash for gold, New Zealand’s Hamish Carter and Brit Simon Lessing.  But it was another Simon who would come out of nowhere to pull off the second stunner in as many races. 

Despite being down more than a minute off the bike, Simon Whitfield ripped apart the 10-kilometer run course and ran his way back into contention.  With 800 meters to go, he was still a solid 40 meters behind German Stefan Vuckovic.  But Whitfield shifted into another gear and with a final finishing kick that he would define his career, the Canadian leaped across the finish line to steal Olympic gold.  He posted the fastest run split of the day and was the only man to run under 31 minutes.  Vuckovic held on for the silver, the very medal he won at the Sydney ITU Triathlon World Cup, the test event in April.  Czech Jan Rehula came across for the bronze medal.  Dmitriy Gaag of Kazakhstan and Spaniard Ivan Rana finished fourth and fifth respectively. 

Click here for full men’s results

Please visit the Official Site of the Olympic Movement www.olympic.org