Launch of triathlon championships in Perth

17/11/97

The Best on Earth came to Perth in Western Australia last weekend -- and it was spectacular.

More than 40,000 people crammed the city streets on Sunday, November 16, to see the cream of the world's triathletes go through their paces in the ITU Triathlon World Championships.

About 1300 athletes from 50 countries took part through age group categories to the elite men and elite women.

One of the highlights of the day for Western Australia's Tourism Minister Norman Moore was to sound a klaxon to start the blue ribbon elite men's event. He is shown here just three minutes from the start with the elite field on the beach in the background.

The 1.5km swim, 40km cycle ride and 10km run saw Australian Chris McCormack hold off New Zealand's Hamish Carter , who finished 12 seconds behind, and England's Simon Lessing, who finished 25 seconds behind the winner.

World No. 1 Emma Carney, also from Australia, won the elite women's event.

Media contact: Hartley Joynt 9321 1444