New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt rounded off her preparation for the ITU World Series Grand Final in Chicago next month with a bronze medal finish at the latest event in Stockholm.
New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It's Hewitt's first World Series medal since the opening round in Auckland in March, when she also finished third.
The Cantabrian was delighted with her work on a testing course, finishing behind Americans Sarah True and Katie Zaferes.
"This is on par with Auckland, the other of my two podiums this year. It was tough, this is such a tough course, because they were away at the start, we had 12 seconds to catch and it took us half of the bike, we really had to push today."
"I had to push hard and every time up the hill it took a little more out of me and eventually Katie went past me but I am happy with the podium and performance today."
Hewitt emerged from the choppy swim with a small gap to the leaders but hard work on the bike helped her and others bridge to the Americans to form a lead group of 15.
Once on to the run, Hewitt went stride for stride with the front pack and looked likely to pick up silver behind True, only to be pipped close to the line by a fast-finishing Zaferes.
Hewitt is in fourth place overall with just Edmonton and Chicago to come on the WTS calendar - however she won't race in Edmonton, instead focusing on her preparation for the Chicago Grand Final in just under a month's time.
Fellow New Zealander Rebecca Spence failed to finish the race, while Ryan Sissons was sixth in the elite men's field.
Sissons was the sole New Zealander in the men's field in Stockholm.