• ITU World Triathlon Series

Stanford crowned world triathlon champion

Non Stanford is the first woman to win the world under-23 title and world title in successive seasons © Getty Images

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Great Britain's Non Stanford has been crowned 2013 world triathlon champion after winning the Grand Final in Hyde Park.

Stanford was handed a 15 second time penalty after failing to put her wetsuit in the box, but a commanding performance and recovery in the 10 kilometre run saw her cross the line first in a time of two hours one minute and 32 seconds.

She becomes the first woman to win both the world under-23 title and world title in successive seasons, with Alistair Brownlee the only other athlete to have achieved the same.

Fellow Brit Jodie Simpson finished fourth in the race in London, which was enough to claim the silver medal overall.

Title contender Anne Haug had to settle for bronze; the German failed to recover from a difficult swim, while race favourite Gwen Jorgensen crashed out on her bike.

However, after establishing a healthy lead in the closing run, Stanford took her time penalty on the final lap before coming out ahead of the chasing pack.

"I'm speechless," Stanford said. I haven't slept for three weeks. Everyone was talking about it. I just wanted to put on a good show, and all my friends and family are here so I'm delighted I could do it for them.

"I went off really hard in the run, trying to make up that gap straight away and on the sidelines I was hearing '25 seconds' so I thought 'I've got to take it now'."

It is a remarkable achievement for Stanford, who suffered a broken arm after a heavy fall from her bike in a world series race in Hamburg in July. The 24-year-old stood on the podium in Stockholm just five weeks later.

The ITU World Series contains seven races between April and August, with the Grand Final taking place in September. Each triathlete gains points depending on where they finish in each race. The leader of the standings after the Grand Final is crowned world champion.

The men's race takes place on Sunday.

Grand Final Standings
1. Non Stanford (GB) 2 hours 01 minutes 32 seconds
2. Aileen Reid (Ire) 02:01:57
3. Emma Moffatt (Aus) 02:02:00
4. Jodie Stimpson (GB) 02:02:06
5. Alice Betto (Ita) 02:02:09
6. Emma Jackson (Aus) 02:02:11
7. Sarah Groff (US) 02:02:16
8. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 02:02:56
9. Ashleigh Gentle (Aus) 02:03:06
10. Ainhoa Murua (Esp) 02:03:26

ITU World Triathlon Series Overall Standings
1. Non Stanford (GB) 4220 points
2. Jodie Simpson (GB) 3805
3. Anne Haug (Ger) 3110
4. Gwen Jorgensen (US) 3033
5. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 3004
6. Emma Moffatt (Aus) 2906
7. Ashleigh Gentle (Aus) 2720
8. Aileen Reid (Ire) 2681
9. Sarah Groff (Aus) 2295
10. Alice Betto (Ita) 2270

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