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Melbourne’s Rio Paralympian Kate Doughty has continued her outstanding early season form, chalking up her third consecutive victory in the World Paratriathlon Series race in Yokohama today.
The former Para-equestrian star, born without her right hand, threw her arms in the air to claim the gold medal – her second of the season after winning on the Gold Coast last month.
Doughty, the 33-year-old who was fifth in Rio and a bronze medallist at the 2015 World Championships in Chicago, came to Japan to continue her World Championship qualification campaign.
And she was delighted with “mission accomplished” and couldn’t hide her delight as she crossed the line over 2 two minutes 30 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Rio bronze medallist Gwladys Lemoussu (France) with the 2016 World Championship bronze winner Anna Bychkova (RUS) five minutes behind in third.
The Danielle Stefano coached Doughty will set herself for the ITU World Championships in Rotterdam in September.
She led her six Australian team mates around the course on a day that saw the green and gold brigade win one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
WA school teacher and two-time ITU World champion, Sally Pilbeam, an arm amputee, followed her win on the Gold Coast with a silver in her PTS4 class won by Japan’s Mami Tani with Patricia Collins (USA) taking bronze.
Five-time ITU World Champion Bill Chaffey finished with the bronze in the Hand Cycle class with fellow Rio Olympian Nic Beveridge in fifth with Dutchman Geert Schipper taking the gold and Giovani Achenza (ITA) the bronze.
In the women’s Hand Cycle, Gold Coaster Sarah Tait finished fifth in a race won by Wakato Tsuchida (JPN) with Jade Jones (GBR) second and Eva Maria Moral Pedrero third.
Chaffey has already qualified for next year’s Commonwealth Games next year with Beveridge and Tait still working towards qualification.
Another member of the Rio team from last year, WA’s above knee amputee, Brant Garvey finished sixth in the PTS2 class for men.
By Triathlon Australia
Posted: 15/7/2017
