Canadian triathlete Charles Paquet earns World Cup bronze in Brazil

Canadian Charles Paquet won a bronze medal at the inaugural World Triathlon Cup event in Brasilia on Sunday.

Paquet, of Port Cartier, Que., secured his first-ever World Cup podium finish with a time of 1:48:36 in the challenging 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike and 10-kilometre run.

Brazil's Miguel Hidalgo won gold in 1:48:01, while Spain's Antonio Serrat Seoane claimed silver in 1:48:27.

"I had a really good day to be honest," said Paquet. "I impressed myself with the swim and somehow ended up in the first five I don't know how, and then the bike was really windy so we were either really slow or really fast, no one really on it, then just running as fast as I can and those guys really made me push and I just managed to keep it going to the end."

Podium Alert: Charles Paquet celebrates his first World Cup podium, winning the bronze in Brazil<br><br>Charles Paquet monte sur le podium de la Coupe du monde pour la première fois pour décrocher la médaille de bronze au Brésil. <a href="https://t.co/a1x7gch73H">pic.twitter.com/a1x7gch73H</a>

Winnipeg's Chris Gregor finished 28th in a field of 47 with a time of 1:56:35.

Italy's Alice Betto won the competitive women's event in 2:00:05, ahead of American Katie Zaferes (2:00:15), and Mexico's Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (2:00:27).

Emy Legault, of Notre-Dame-de-l'Ile-Perrot, Que., placed 10th in a time of 2:02:05.

Paquet, of Port Cartier, Que., finished 24th, and Brock Hoel, of West Kelowna, B.C., was 47th.