YOG 2010: Barclay takes triathlon gold as Brit Hood feels the heat

By Sportsbeat staff

GREAT Britain's Andrew Hodd felt the heat in the Youth Olympic Games men's triathlon, collapsing as he crossed the line in Singapore.

TRIUMPH: New Zealand's Aaron Barclay takes line honours in the men's triathlon at the Youth Olympic Games. Britain's Andrew Hodd was 15th (Singapore Press Holdings)

Hodd covered the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run in 57.17.54 to come home 15th, just outside his pre-race top ten target.

The 18-year-old will return from Singapore to attend Stirling University - with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow his long-term target.

But he knows he faces plenty of home rivals for success, including world champion Alistair Brownlee and younger brother Jonathan, who won gold at last year's Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

"I'm looking to build up to 2014 in Glasgow, that's probably my long-term aim," he said.

"That's why I've chosen to attend Stirling Uni because my coaching will be better and can really increase the intensity of my training.

"There are lots of top triathletes in Britain now and that really drives you on. I watched the Brownlees in London a few weeks ago and there are a great inspiration and the standard you need to aspire to."

Little known New Zealander Aaron Barclay, 17, claimed gold, an achievement is all the more remarkable because he is visually impaired and was racing in his first event outside of Oceania.

American pre-race favourite Kevin McDowell settled for silver while Austria's Alois Knable completed the podium.

"I wanted to swim in the front bunch and take it from there, and I was trying not to give these guys an inch because they'll take a mile," said Barclay. 

"They are unknown to me so I had to be aggressive, and they didn't know me so they didn't chase.

"I stuck on (McDowell's) tail. He started fading back, so 'I thought I'm in for a medal here."