Inspired by her late father, American Katie Zaferes wins bronze in women’s triathlon

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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TOYKO – Competing in inclement weather, Katie Zaferes noticed a rainbow in the Tokyo sky, and knew it was her guardian angel.

“I saw a rainbow during the race, and I thought ‘Hey dad,’” Zaferes said following the women’s triathlon.

Zaferes father, Bill Hursey, passed away in April. But her father’s spirit guides her daily.

“He’s with me in a different way and we’re going to be doing this together, as I ask for his guidance, strength and joy for the road ahead,” Zaferes said, per the official Team USA page. “Because as my dad reminded me before every race, all I needed to do was 'race hard, but most of all have fun.' So that is what I’m going to do."

Katie Zaferes makes the transition from biking to running in the women's triathlon at Odaiba Marine Park.
Katie Zaferes makes the transition from biking to running in the women's triathlon at Odaiba Marine Park.

Zaferes did just that amid rainy conditions Tuesday morning at Tokyo's Odaiba Marine Park.

The American triathlete finished third with a time of 1:57:03.

Bermuda’s Flora Duffy won the gold with a time of 1:55:36. Duffy’s gold is Bermuda’s first Olympic gold medal in any sport and its second Olympic medal of any kind. Georgia Taylor-Brown of Great Britain placed second crossing the finish line at 1:56:50.

Duffy, Taylor-Brown and Zaferes were at the front of the pack for the majority of the race. Zaferes was even in the lead after the bike phase and at the second transition.

Zaferes was eventually passed by Duffy and Taylor-Brown, but winning an Olympic medal was exactly what the American had hoped to achieve.

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“It feels so good,” Zaferes said after winning bronze. “Being able to execute today and really race like myself (feels good). I know there are so many people that supported me through a really, really hard time. My whole team got me here today. I’m just so happy.”

Smiling down from above, Zaferes knows her father is happy, too.

“He would’ve been crying,” Zaferes said of her late father. “I know he would’ve been so proud and so happy.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympics triathlon: American Katie Zaferes wins bronze in Tokyo