Mens Olympic Triathlon: the Gamesmaker's view

The men’s triathlon started a lot later in the morning, but no, this did not mean a lie in, as the gamesmakers had to be in place at the same time of day, sue to a scheduled course recce for the elite men prior to their race.

Being a Tuesday, there was no need for night busses as the trains started early enough to get me to Hyde Park for my 6:30am check in, so Tube train it was, but it still meant a 4am get up to catch the first train out at 5am! I was pleasantly surprised to see several other gamesmakers that were also going to Hyde Park, also get on the same train, we even recognised each other! It was a clear dry morning, thank goodness, and we arrived at Hyde Park AFTER the dawn rose, for a change, which is always a bonus!  

As we gathered and collected our stuff ready for the task ahead, I spotted a Royal Welsch with his goat, just walking the grounds. He said he was there all day just for the public to photograph, etc. I asked about the medals on the goat, and he said that the goat was part of the regiment so therefore able to earn medals for service just like the soldiers!

Crowds at 6:30AM!

Dedication=queuing at 7am!

As we walked out, there were already people forming queues (it was 7:30am, and the race didn’t start till 11:30am!) and there were already people forming camps at the barriers along serpentine road – the lead into transition. This was going to be a HUGE day, I could already tell.

By around 9am (the time the course recce started) there were droves and droves of people flocking into Hyde Park. By 10am, a course bike stopped and told us not to send any more people into Hyde Park, because it was FULL! The live site, big screens, everything, full to bursting!! Oh My gosh!! By 10:15am our barriers at the Wellington Arch were five to ten deep, and people were struggling to find somewhere to get a good vantage point. This crowd was immense!! It felt like the race was about to start, but there was still another hour to go! The international TV cameras set up right beside us, which meant we were not allowed to take photos etc of the race, as it wouldn’t look good on TV. That’s ok, you mean I might get on TV? That’s even better! It was immediately apparent that I was not going anywhere, so I found yet another lovely lovely spectator who went and got me coffee, fighting the crowds to get to Pret a Manger! THANK YOU!

international TV: cool!

My favourite spectator! she got coffee!

By 11:30am the O2 phone network had completely crashed, phone, text and 3G. We had no idea what was unfolding until they first passed us on the bike course. The crowd was unbelievable. All the Gamesmakers had to crouch down so we didn’t block their view, the roar was deafening, truly. It must have been just awesome to be an athlete in that race. I can completely relate when Alistair said he couldn’t hear what his team mates were saying and his ears were ringing the whole way round.

Our new Olympic champion!

It was such an electric atmosphere it is just indescribable. I felt so so proud to be a part of it. From our vantage point at the Wellington Arch it seemed that the race plan was unfolding exactly as expected, with the Brownlees in the front of the pack, and Hayes leading them round, delivering them into T2 ready for a fresh run. We only found out late into the last bike lap that Johnny had a penalty. The crowd discussed whether he could run that back, and they thought that there was a very good chance. By the time that the men were out onto the run thankfully my 3G and phone reception had come back on. We huddled round my mini phone screen watching the TV footage as history unfolded in the park adjacent. The crowd were poised holding their breath. The barrier brigade came by to dismantle the course and open the roads. We didn’t care. We huddled around his radio till he unfortunately had to leave, we needed to know what was happening! Then it happened. History was made, as Alistair Brownlee took the Gold, Johnny the Bronze after an immense fight back. It’s worth noting that Alistair’s run split was only just over a minute slower than Mo Farah’s when he won gold on the 10,000m on the track! The crowds still gathered at the Wellington Arch launched into a roar. A nation was proud of Team GB once again.

Dedicated crowds cheered us in too!

As we walked back to workforce check in as a team, the corwd cheered us all the way. That was awesome, very very special and moving.

What an awesome reception for triathlon. The sport simply grows and grows and grows!!