Kiwi triathlete Dylan McCullough claims gold at Youth Olympic Games

Dylan McCullough on the podium at the Youth Olympic Games. Photo / Thomas Lovelock

Kiwi triathlete Dylan McCullough has claimed New Zealand's first gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

McCullough broke away with a 13-second lead after a tight-fought bike ride with Italy's Alessio Crociani before taking out the men's triathlon with a final time of 53:27 - 12 seconds ahead of Portuguese silver medallist Alexandre Monties.

Describing the race "touch and go," the seventeen-year-old Saint Kentigern student said it was an amazing feeling to come away with the top title.

"It was a very special feeling crossing the line today," McCullough said after the race, "I didn't look back the whole run,"

"I tried to keep calm but obviously it's such a big race and I was quite nervous coming into it but I just knew that I had to stick to the plan and knew if I stuck to that, and executed everything perfectly, then I should have a great race."

With little time to celebrate and rest, McCullough will line up alongside Brea Roderick for the Oceania team in the mixed relay on Thursday.