Canadian Paquet wins bronze at world triathlon championship series competition

Canada's Charles Paquet captured a bronze medal Saturday at a World Triathlon Championship Series competition Saturday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The 29-year-old finished the event in one hour 43 minutes 31 seconds. Portugal's Vasco Vilaca finished first in 1:43:43 with German Henry Graf taking second (1:43:37).

All three competitors were locked in a battle until the closing stage of the 10-kilometre run.

"It's amazing to start the season like this," said Paquet. "Last year I was disappointed not to podium having been close a few times, so it's a great feeling."

Paquet finished the 1.5-kilometre swim in 12th among 13 competitors before settling into the middle of the pack during the opening lap of the five-lap bike course.

He eventually came out in eighth spot, 27 seconds behind the leaders entering the 10-kilometre stage. At the halfway mark, Paquet was shoulder-to-shoulder with Vilaca and Graf.

They remained together until the final 400 metres, when Vilaca surged ahead, followed by Graf.

Paquet becomes just the second Canadian man to earn a WTCS medal. Tyler Mislawchuk was third at the Montreal stop in 2019.