"I think everyone trained hard and wanted to be the best here. This medal is silver, but it feels like gold for me, it's in the Olympics," said Fernandes.
"It means a lot to me because a little Portuguese country has medallists too. I think it's good for Portugal and Europe to boost some girls to the top in the Olympic Games. For me, I can put this medal on the top of other medals.
Portugal's silver medal winner Vanessa Fernandes (R) is congratuled by Austrialia's gold medal winner Emma Snowsill after competing in the women's triathlon at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing, on August 18, 2008. [Agencies] |
"I won her a few times, she won me a few times. In the race, you need to judge everything according to specific situation."
Laura Bennett of United States, who finished the first leg in water in 19:49 seconds, was settled in fourth place.
Snowsill was in fifth in 19:51 after the 1.5km open water swimming and Vanessa Fernandes came out of the water in the ninth place in 19:53.
Then a batch of around twenty triathletes formed up the first group from the very early stage of cycling and medal hopefuls were booked up in the group, including all three podium finishers.
After the 40km cycling race, Maffatt was in first place, while Snowsill was fifth and Fernandes in sixth. In the run part, the top two finishers sprinted out the small bunch and established advantage.
"It's pretty high up there (on life achievements). It's those people who got me here they deserve it as much as me," said the bronze medallist Maffatt.
"I started my strategy by pacing myself. My plan worked. You have to be a smart racer at this level. This course is very challenging.
"It's really hot. You must block those things out. It's really tough," added Maffatt.
It's not a surprise at all for Snowsill to win here. Fernandes has faltered this year, losing to Snowsill in Mooloolaba, finishing 10th in a surprisingly weak world championship title defense, and failed to finish in Hamburg, her final race before the Olympics.