Kate Allen of Austria pulled off an upset to win the women's triathlon in the Athens Olympic Games, beating all-time leader Loretta Harrop of Australia and world number one Barbara Lindquist of the United States in Athens on August 25.

The 50th-ranked Austrian finished top at two hours, four minutes and 43.45 seconds in the tough Vouliagmeni course in Athens, while Harrop claimed the silver medal with 6.72 seconds behind and Susan Williams of the United States the third in 2:05: 08.92.

"This was the best win of my career. I've been concentrated on the Olympics in my whole career," Allen said.

Lindquist, who surprisingly failed to qualify for the USA team in Sydney four years ago, clocked 2:06:25.49 with a disappointing ninth finish in the 50-women race.

Her fellow American Sheila Taormina, ranked 2nd in the world, lay in 23rd with a surprising results of 2:09:21.08.

Harrop broke away from the group after two events, leading the race with 18:37 in swim, 19 seconds in the first transition, and 1: 08:46 in cycling, 0:21 in the second transition.

The swim specialist, Sydney Games' fifth-placer, fell back to 13th in the running after leading the pack for most of the 10km course.

"I'm not disappointed - I've given my 100 percent," Harrop said.

Allen, who was left far behind before the 10km running, geared up in the last lap on sprint with the last 100 meters to go. She finished the run in 33:48, beating Harrop by 6.72 seconds.

Chinese duo Xing Lin and Wang Hongni failed to stay in the top 20 as Xing did not complete and Wang lay in the 40th at 2:18:40.07.

Xing was disqualified in the 40 kilometers cycling leg after being caught up on the fourth lap.

This is the second time the sport of triathlon has been included on the Olympic Games programme, and unlike Sydney, where the women formed a large pack on the 40km bike leg, the Athens course design have a marked effect on the women's race.

A defining feature of the course is the 700m hill on the bike leg, a climb that varies in grade from 4 to 20 percent, that the 50 women have to tackle five times during the cycle.

Results of women's triathlon at Olympics

Following are the results of women' s triathlon at the 28th Olympic Games on Wednesday:

1. Katherine Allen, Austria, two hours four minutes and 43.45 seconds

2. Loretta Harrop, Australia, 2:04:50.17

3. Susan Williams, United States, 2:05:08.92

4. Kathleen Smet, Belgium, 2:05:35.89

5. Nadia Cortassa, Italy, 2:05:45.35

6. Michelle Dillon, Britain, 2:06:00.77

7. Ana Burgos, Spain, 2:06:02.36

8. Vanessa Fernandes, Portugal, 2:06:15.39