Olympic triathlon ends in photo finish

Nicola Sprig of Switzerland won the women's Olympic triathlon Saturday in a race so dramatic it required a photograph to determine the champion. Sprig, Lisa Norden of Sweden, Erin Densham of Australia and Sarah Groff of the United States ran in a group through Hyde Park toward the finish line and only in the final 50 yards did Sprig and Norden separate themselves from the other two women. The two leaders ran stride for stride to the finish line and after crossing the white stripe on the road that signified the end of the race they collapsed in exhaustion. They were given the same time -- 1 hour, 59 minutes, 48.00 seconds worth of swimming, cycling and running. It took a photo to show Sprig had won by the narrowest of margins. Densham took the bronze medal, finishing 2 seconds back. Groff was fourth, 10 seconds behind Densham. Sprig finished sixth in this event at the Beijing Olympics and was 19th in the Athens triathlon four years earlier. Her medal was the first for Switzerland at the London Games.