Non Stanford Proves Her Future Is Still Bright Despite Gold Coast Eclipse

Non Stanford made up for the disappointment of not making the podium at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as she picked up a third place finish in the ITU World Triathlon series in Yokohama.

The former world champion admitted after the race that she had been contemplating her future in the sport and even looking for a job. Now she can bin the job applications and focus on a brighter future.

Commonwealth champion Flora Duffy, from Bermuda, dominated the race and won by 32 seconds from American Katie Zaferes with the Team Wales captain a further 43 seconds behind.

Having not reached the podium for more than two years, Stanford put behind her a period of illness and injury to prove she is going to be in the mix for the British team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. She was an agonising fourth in Rio.

“In all honestly I spent last night Googling job applications and I was reading this morning what I have to do for a particular job. I just didn’t expect that today,” said Stanford.

“It has been a really tough two years, I have gone through a lot of up and downs. This sport can be super cruel and super tough, but it has just taught me that if you stay patient and just keep plugging away you can get back up there.”