Team England's Jess Learmonth has admitted that she is surprised by her meteoric rise after picking up a silver medal in the women's triathlon at the Commonwealth Games this morning.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2017 and continued that form into this year with a second-place finish in the season-opening event in Abu Dhabi last month.
Learmonth was neck and neck with heavy favourite Flora Duffy heading into the 5km run - the final discipline of the triathlon - but fell away and was ultimately forced to hold on for the silver medal under pressure from Canada's Joanna Brown.
"[I'm] delighted. I've got to admit I'm glad that it's over now, after that last lap on the run, so I tried to enjoy it as much as I could coming into the finish, but with Jo behind me it wasn't that enjoyable! But I can try to relive it now I think, now it's finished," she told Sports Mole.
When asked whether she had surprised herself over the past two years, she added: "Yeah, definitely. I thought I could do it, but it's come quite quick really and I think it's helped by having people like Flora in the race, it just helps my self-strengths. I think without her it would be quite different but I feel quite lucky, really."
Learmonth could have a chance at a second Commonwealth medal if she is selected as part of England's mixed relay team on Saturday.
Barney Corkhill
