Canada's Tyler Mislawchuk wins bronze medal at World Triathlon Cup in China

Tyler Mislawchuk opened his season with a bronze-medal win at a World Triathlon Cup in Chengdu, China, on Saturday.

It was the seventh career World Cup medal for the 32-year-old from Oak Bluff, Man.

Mislawchuk, a three-time Olympian, also won the Tokyo Olympic Test event in 2019 and has one bronze medal previously on the World Triathlon Championship Series.

“You just never know when the next podium will be so I’m going to soak this one in,” Mislawchuk said in a release. “With six months of off season, I’m pretty happy with the first hit of the year.”

Mislawchuk crossed the line in 50 minutes and 16 seconds to land on the podium. Australia’s Luke William won gold in 50:14, while France's Nils Serre Gehri (50:14) was a stride behind in the silver-medal position.

Fellow Canadians Liam Donnelly, of Campbellville, Ont., and Martin Sobey, of Charlottetown, were eighth and 13th, respectively.

In the women's event, Montreal’s Isla Britton finished 24th and Sophia Howell, of Airdrie, Alta., was 37th.

Germany’s Laura Lindemann won the women’s race in 55:27, while neutral athlete Valentina Riasova scored silver and Great Britain's Kate Waugh took bronze.

Mislawchuk, Sobey, Britton and Howell will join team up on Sunday for the first ever World Cup mixed relay in Chengdu.