Tim Reed has become the first Australian triathlete to win an ironman 70.3 world championship on home soil.
Reed hung tough to edge out two-time world champion Sebastien Kienle from Germany on the closing run leg yesterday.
Reed has enjoyed a stellar year, having also successfully defended his ironman 70.3Asia-Pacific title and claimed a debut victory at Ironman Australia.
"Full credit to Seb [Kienle]," said Reed. "He broke me about four times but with this amazing crowd, I was able to fight back. I owe it to them. I cannot believe it. This is something I have only ever dreamed about."
Reed was nearly a minute behind after a 1.9km swim leg where fellow Australian Josh Amberger had set the pace.
He closed the gap in the bike leg to be only 10s down at the final transition and then dug deep on the run leg to win in 3h 44m 13s, with Kienle just two seconds adrift in second spot.
Swiss triathlete Ruedi Wild was third, 24s behind Kienle, with Kiwi Terenzo Bozzone fourth, a further 1m 12s back after starting the 21.1km run with the leaders.
Sam Appleton was the next best Australian in fifth spot, with Nicholas Kastelein (sixth) and Craig Alexander (10th) also claiming top-10 finishes.
Australian Melissa Hauschildt finished second in the women's race yesterday won by Britain's Holly Lawrence. Two-time winner Hauschildt was four minutes behind American Lauren Bandon after the 1.9km swim.
Lawrence made her move on the bike and it proved enough to stave off the challenge of Hauschildt on the run. Annabel Luxford was the second Australian across the line in sixth spot.
