Team England triathlete Vicky Holland emerged successful at the Gold Coast in the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final to clinch her first world title, with countrywoman Georgia Taylor-Brown taking overall bronze.

Going into the Grand Final, Holland was 34 points behind American Katie Zafares, who she had been battling with all season, but she finished second in Australia with Zaferes in third to leapfrog the American and claim the title. 

The 32-year-old, from Gloucester, completed the course in a time of one hour and 52 minutes, narrowly behind Australian Ashleigh Gentle, but finishing a place above her American counterpart meant she acquired enough points to take the title. Holland ended the World Series 52 points clear at the summit, and a further 1,357 points from third placed Taylor-Brown. 

She told BBC Sport after the race: “I can’t actually believe it. I thought at one point in the run that it was done, there was quite a big gap there. I can't believe I brought it back.

"This season as a whole has been absolutely incredible - three wins, two seconds and a world title. It's so much more than I thought I would get out of this year."

Picking up wins in Montreal, Leeds and Edmonton, Holland’s world title success has been thoroughly warranted, and caps an impressive 2018 for the 32-year-old triathlete. 

Elsewhere at the Gold Coast Grand Final, which took place from 12th - 16th September, Lauren Steadman was one of three British paratriathletes to clinch gold, as the 25-year-old held off countrywoman Claire Cashmore to claim PTS5 category gold. 

Dave Ellis, along with guide Mark Buckingham, took the world title in the visually impaired title, while Hannah Moore rounded off a sensational few days for Great Britain with a gold in the PTS4. 

Moore, who had her leg removed in July 2016 after a procedure to get rid of an ingrown toenail led to infected ulcers, is now the European and world champion, just two years after she paid £5,000 of her own money to have a private amputation after the NHS refused it. 

“This is the most successful outcome for our team in its short history and testament to the continuous hard work from every member of coaching and support staff,” Jonathon Riall, the Great Britain Paratriathlon Team head coach, told BBC Sport.