LONDON: Switzerland's Nicola Spirig said a simple, but purposely trained, will to win got her over the line as she shrugged off cramps to win a gripping Olympic triathlon by the tiniest of margins Saturday.
Spirig, who beat Sweden's Lisa Norden in a dramatic photo finish -- after a 1.5km swim, 43km bike-ride and 10km run, over two punishing hours at London's Hyde Park -- said she had trained her mind and her body for that very moment.
To deafening roars from the packed grandstand, Spirig and Norden sprinted up the home straight and crashed over the finish line together, prompting some confusion before the Swiss runner was confirmed as the winner.
Australia's Erin Densham finished two seconds behind in what was the closest Olympic women's triathlon yet.
Spirig, 30, said she had trained to the limit for the London Games -- and her preparations had been psychological, as well as physical.
"I think it needed having the body to sprint, to be fast enough to win, but it also needed the mind to be convinced I can win, I want to win, I'm going to be at the finish line first," she said.
"I trained both: I trained to sprint again and again and again in training, and I also trained my mind, so it definitely needed both."
She needed every ounce of that determination when she ignored cramps which had affected her since the bike race and surged down the finishing straight.
Despite being caught by Norden, the three-time European champion found the resolve to lunge over the line just in front. Official timekeeping clocked both runners at 1hr 59min 48sec.
Spirig, who spent four months out with injury last year, finished sixth fours years ago in Beijing, having been 19th at the 2004 Games in Athens and said the experience from previous Olympics had served her well.
"The experience helped me, the years helped me. This time I was prepared to give 100 percent in my preparation... and everything went perfect," she said.
For Densham, a bronze medal was the surprising reward after a troubled build-up including heart trouble, diagnosed after she had to be pulled from the water during a race in 2009.
After corrective surgery, the Australian returned to competition but she had only an outside chance of making the team at the start of this season, before clocking up three victories and finishing second in San Diego.
Even then, her place was thrown into doubt when Beijing gold-medallist Emma Snowsill launched an appeal against her omission from the three-woman squad.
"From where I've come from it's been a long road, and I was really fortunate just to be on the start line," Densham said. "Then to come away with a medal as well, it's nice."
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