New Zealands three representatives struggled to make an impression in the Olympic mens triathlon at Hyde Park today.
The best-placed of the trio was veteran Bevan Docherty, who finished 12th in 1h 48min 35s, which was 2min 05s behind the winner, Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain.
It was Dochertys third Olympic triathlon he was the silver medallist behind Hamish Carter in 2004 and picked up the bronze in 2008.
Kris Gemmell was the second New Zealander home, in 1h 48min 52s, good enough for 15th.
Ryan Sissons, the other New Zealander, was 33rd in 1h 50min 27s.
Docherty, 35, was 23rd of the 55 starters after the 1.5km swim, and had a solid bike ride, completing the 43km in 58.51s, 16th fastest of the field. He began his run in 17th position and picked up another five places by covering the 10km in 31.12s.
I came here hoping to win a medal, Docherty said, but to be realistic I did as well as I could out there. Im proud of how I hung in there.
These days Im a diesel engine and its a Formula One race.
Gemmell was 24th after the swim, but had a very good bike ride and was in the leading bunch at the end of that leg actually in second spot. He struggled slightly on the run, covering the 10km in 31.31s.
Sissons always seemed slightly off the pace. He was 32nd after the swim, and only 50th at the end of the cycling leg. He ran the 10km in 31.31s, the same time as Gemmell.
Brownlee, one of the greatest triathletes ever, won in 1h 46min 25s. He sealed the gold with a 29min 07s 10km run, a really sizzling time that burnt off silver medallist Javier Gomez of Spain.
Brownlees brother, Jonathan, picked up the bronze medal, despite incurring a 15sec penalty for mounting his bike too early.
The flat course produced very fast times the first 11 finishers beat the Olympic record and Docherty was only 10 seconds outside it.
