Cary triathlete Katie Zaferes helps U.S. to silver medal in mixed triathlon
Posted July 27, 2021 8:13 a.m. EDT
Updated July 31, 2021 3:02 p.m. EDT
Olympian and Cary-based triathlete Katie Zaferes helped notch another medal for the U.S. in the Tokyo Games.
Zaferes and the U.S. claimed a silver medal in the inaugural mixed triathlon relay Saturday at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo Bay.
Alongside teammates Kevin McDowell, Taylor Knibb and Morgan Pearson, Zaferes helped the team finish in 1:23:55. Zaferes finished her leg in 21:14. Great Britain claimed gold with a time of 1:23:41.
Zaferes won a bronze medal for the U.S. on Monday night. Her performance notched just the third Olympic medal from a U.S. triathlete in history. The third-place finish in the triathlon brought the U.S. Tokyo medal tally to 15.
Zaferes was born in Maryland, but currently lives in Cary.
After Monday's race, Zaferes paid tribute to her late father, who passed away three months ago. Zaferes saw a rainbow as she competed.
"He would have been crying," she said. "He would have been so proud and happy."
Bermuda's Flora Duffy won the event with a time of 1:55:36. Summer Rappaport, from Durham, finished 14th in around two hours.
Zaferes was a World Champion in 2019 and placed 18th at the 2016 Olympic event.