Absolute mayhem in Tokyo Olympics triathlon ‘shambles’

The first event on Day 3 of the Olympics has become an absolute “shambles” as a boat forced an event to be cancelled 150m into the race.

Half the field was cut off by a boat.

There was absolute carnage to the start of the men’s triathlon on Monday morning with half the field blocked by a broadcasting boat off the starting deck.

Only half of the athletes could jump into the water at the Odaiba Marine Park for the 1.5km swim, with a RIB boat blocking the other half’s entry.

The boat had drifted to within just metres of the starting deck, triggering a false start.

Some of the athletes swam as far as 150m before they were eventually cut off by marshalls in kayaks.

Half the field was blocked in the men's individual triathlon competition. AFP.

The race has since re-started with three Aussies in the field — Matthew Hauser, Aaron Royle and Jacob Birtwhistle.

Former Australian Olympian Tamsyn Lewis Manou described the start as “insane” in a post on Twitter.

BBC TV commentator Matt Chilton described it as a “shambles”.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before at the start of a triathlon — let alone one at the Olympics. What a shambles.

“There was a boat in the way.”

Half the field was cut off by a boat.

Swimmers were miles from the start before they were turned around.

The sporting world was left stunned at the scenes with commentators scared the athletes faced a serious danger to their safety.

Chaos at the triathlon as half the field dive in on ‘on your marks’ and have to be intercepted by the marshall boats. Brits still on dry land. To be fair there was a boat in the way. pic.twitter.com/g1VrRSom8H

— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) July 25, 2021

Absolute chaos at the #Olympics Men’s Triathlon as the starting gun is fired…with a boat sitting in the way of half of the competitors. Race just restarted now, but only after half the men had swum a fair bit! @Tokyo2020pic.twitter.com/81H1Gf9YAq

— Finlay Duncan (@FinlayD) July 25, 2021

Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway went on to win the men’s triathlon Olympic title.

The 27-year-old Norwegian crossed the line in a time of 1 hour 45minutes 04seconds before raising the winning line tape above his head and then throwing himself to the ground in celebration still wrapped in the tape.

Jack Yee of Britain took silver 11 seconds behind the winner whilst Hayden Wilde of New Zealand took bronze.