Tokyo Olympics 2021: Disaster narrowly averted at the triathlon as boat reverses near athletes

An Aussie copped a broken nose, a boat almost ran over the athletes, and a Norwegian uniform left little to the imagination – the Olympics triathlon was something to behold. Full wrap.

The men’s Olympic triathlon got off to a chaotic start on Monday, with a rare false start and a suspected broken nose for one of the Aussies.

Only half of the 56 men lined up on the pontoon in the Odaiba Bay were able to dive into the water after the start gun fired, as an associated boat blocked the middle of the swimming channel.

All three of Australia’s triathletes, Matt Hauser, Jake Birtwhistle and Aaron Royle, dived in on the initial start gun, with Birtwhistle coping a kick to the face.

FOLLOW DAY 3 LIVE HERE

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

“It was one of the roughest swims I’ve ever been in,” Birtwhistle said.

“I think I have a broken nose ... it was in the false start so it was all for nothing as well.”

Royle got about 50 metres into the swim before the boat finally stopped the swimmers and ushered them back to the pontoon.

“I think for all of us that was the first time that ever happened,” Royle said.

“I just had to laugh to myself as I was swimming back to the pontoon thinking ‘of all the races that could happen in, it had to be the Olympics’.

“Apart from it being a little bit comical I dont think it had an effect on anyone’s race.”

There was chaos at the start of the triathlon

The Triathlon had trouble as the starting gun went off WITH THE CAMERA BOAT BLOCKING HALF THE FIELD🤣🤣. They restarted the race (ht @Bosarge ) pic.twitter.com/tT87A70zdZ

— PodKATT (@valleyshook) July 25, 2021

Miles Stewart, former Olympic triathlete and CEO of Triathlon Australia said a false start “hasn’t happened in a long time”.

“They (the athletes) aren’t easy to pull back as there is so much noise,” he said.

A reporter on the ground for Channel 7 said: “The men’s triathletes basically got ready to jump off the pontoon into the water, a camera boat was positioning just in front of the pontoon was a false start, about half of the field jumped into the water and basically the other half stuck there because the boat was on the way, it tried to dramatically reverse and basically the other half stuck there because the boat was on the way.

Watching the #Triathlon now and the rigs carrying the camera crews are just toooooo close.

Surely drones would have been better than boats so close?! #Olympics#Tokyo2020pic.twitter.com/rQ8d7kYD1k

— Julio Romo (@twofourseven) July 25, 2021

“I’m amazed no one was injured at the event, the field got into the water and got about 50 m before jetskis got in there and manage to carouse them back.”

Onlookers said: “Don’t want to be overly dramatic, but this could have killed someone. This boat suddenly reverses, motors-first, towards athletes diving into the water. Fortunately those in the water didn’t get too far and the second start is underway.”

A triathlon commentator said: “Goodness me that was not in the schedule. It’s a false start and a shambles to be fair.

“My heart leapt, I saw guys diving in and the propeller of an outboard near them. we have to keep our fingers crossed there has been an injury.”

The race started in a more orderly fashion about 10 minutes later, with the three Aussies finishing the swim and ride portions of the race in good position.

Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt celebrates finishing first in the men's individual triathlon competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Picture: AFP

Things went downhill in the run, with Birtwhistle falling back from the front of the pack.

“I was in the right position the whole way through the bike and was up the front starting the run,” he said.

“I just simply didn’t have it once we got on the run today and that’s the reality. It’s disappointing.

It was hoped one of the men could break Australia’s male triathlete medal drought- with not one being won since the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 2000.

But it wasn’t meant to be, with Birtwhistle finishing 16th 1:28 back from Norway’s Kristian Blumenfelt – who was forced to compete in a white uniform that became increasingly see-through.

Hauser finished in 24th spot and Royle in 26th.