By Penny Miles
Our most experienced triathlon coach at the Commonwealth Games has blasted a race official for penalising Hayden Wilde, saying the New Zealander was unfairly denied the chance to sprint for gold.
Wilde, the Olympic bronze medalist, took silver in the men's race behind England's Alex Yee, but was controversially penalised for removing his helmet too early at the end of the bike stage this morning.
Wilde was in the running for the gold medal Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Dr John Hellemans MNZM who coached world champion Erin Baker, and Olympians Andrea Hansen and Kris Gemmell, is well aware of the intricate rules of the sport.
"We respect Alex Yee but in the end they were not able to fight it out honestly in the field of play," Hellemans said.
"The referee was a bit caught out and made a quick decision.
"We feel the penalty was unfairly applied and we're disappointed for Hayden."
Triathlon rules state a helmet must be on the athlete's head until the bike is securely racked.
"When you review the footage it shows that he [the referee] didn't get it right," he said.
Hellemans said that while racking his bike, Wilde touched the helmet strap but crucially he did not unclip the helmet before the bike was set down.
Wilde was stood down in the penalty box at the finishing straight for 10 seconds, leaving England's Yee to take the gold unchallenged.
Hellemans said the New Zealand triathlon team is appealing the decision but a result is likely to be at least a month away.
"It totally cost him the race. You have to take the penalty otherwise you will be disqualified."
Hellemans is at the Birmingham Games as coach of Andrea Hansen and Dylan McCullough.
Coach John Hellemans with Andrea Hansen nee Hewitt at the Beijing Olympics. Photo: Supplied
"Andrea didn't have a great race, she performed better in the Hamburg World Series. Today she had a poor swim and missed the last bunch," he said.
Hansen had hit strong form leading into the Games.
Despite her 18th place, he said she was an inspiration for women coming back from childbirth into elite competition.
"She's done really well. There are a few precedents, a few others have done it before."
McCullough finished seventh.
Meanwhile the New Zealand team are medal contenders in the sprint style mixed relay where Wilde will have another crack at gold.