New Zealand's No 2 triathlete Kris Gemmell played an unwitting role in denying bronze medallist Bevan Docherty a higher step on the podium.
German winner Jan Frodeno revealed yesterday that Gemmell, who finished a disappointing 29th yesterday after stitches in his foot burst early on the run leg,played a big part in his victory.
"He's really taught me a lot," Frodeno said. "He was my housemate back in Germany. He's helped me along a lot [with my] tactics. It's not all about raw energy and blowing it all out when you can, but saving it for the right moment.
"That's what I tried to do today and it worked out for me."
It will take more than reflected glory, however, to help ease 31-year-old Gemmell's pain.
"It's a good day for New Zealand," he said. "It's a sad day for me but I knew my back was against the wall going into the race. I had to give it a try at the start [of the run leg] and after about 1km I can't explain the pain. I wouldn't wish anyone else to go through that.
"The [padding] I had covering my stitches rolled up and then my inner sole was up so I had to stop and biff those. Everything was going against me."
Gemmell could see the irony in the result, though it will take him longer to laugh about it.
"The guy that wins, I live with every day in Germany. I was training with him every day and then the guy that gets a [bronze] medal I live with every other day. You train with them every day, you know that you're capable of competing but it comes to the day and things don't go your way. That's sport."
Five minutes after the race Gemmell was already looking ahead to London, 2012.
"Too right, mate. There's too much unfinished business to give it a flick now."
