Despite exiting the water at a deficit of over a minute to Jetze Plat, a flat tyre for the Dutchman meant Chaffey had an opportunity to pull himself back into contention for victory in the cycling.

By the end of the four-lap course, Chaffey trailed Plat by just three seconds, and with his strongest discipline saved for last, he managed to etch out a two-minute lead after the first of three running laps to all but wrap up the win.

The United States’ Krige Schabort attempted to reel in the Aussie, but he ran out of time as Chaffey wheeled over the finish line more than a minute quicker in 58 min 38sec.

Schabort, who won the men’s PT1 world title last year, took silver while Plat rounded out the podium with bronze.

"It’s unbelievable," said Chaffey.

"I really never expected it today.

"I expected really tough competition and I got that.

"I was a long way behind coming out of the water.

"I got some luck, Jetze got a flat tyre.

"I didn’t want to win because someone else got a flat so I went as hard as I could and I’m really happy with how I went."

Australia claimed another world title in the women’s PT3 race as defending champion Pilbeam finished strong to walk away with the gold medal.

Joining her on the podium was compatriot Kerryn Harvey and The Netherlands’ Saskia Van Den Ouden.

Pilbeam's fellow Australian Kelly, and Olympic silver medal-winning guide Michellie Jones, claimed their first world title after a come-from-behind victory in the women’s PT5 field. 

The swim and bike legs saw a close battle between Great Britain’s Alison Patrick and Melissa Reid, who interchangeably took the lead.

It was after the second transition that Kelly gained on the British pair and was able to brush by them to take the front position and ultimately seize the win.

Patrick followed 30 seconds later to take the silver medal, while Spain’s Susana Rodriguez pulled through on the last lap of the run to overtake Reid and earn the bronze medal.

Kendall Gretsch added a gold to hosts America’s medal count in the women’s PT1 race, holding onto the lead throughout all three legs as Australia’s Emily Tapp picked up the silver medal and Britain’s Lizzie Tench completed the podium with bronze.

Austria’s Oliver Dreier came away with the world title in the men’s PT3 race, taking the lead after a noteworthy performance on the run having trailed in the first two disciplines of the race.

His gold medal signalled a comeback after finishing in second place last year, while silver was awarded to lead swimmer, Alejandro Sanchez Palomero of Spain, and bronze went to Australia’s Justin Godfrey.

Meanwhile, the US’s Aaron Scheidies walked away with the gold medal in the men’s PT5 for the second consecutive year after maintaining the lead for the entirety of the race, with Ukraine’s Vasyl Zakreyskyi receiving the silver medal and Poland’s Lukasz Wietecki finishing in third. 

The US swept the podium in the women’s PT2 sport class, just as they did at last month's Rio 2016 test event, with Allysa Seely grabbing her first world title after outrunning compatriots Hailey Danisewicz and Melissa Stockwell, who finished second and third respectively.

In the equivalent men’s race, Italian Michele Ferrarin came out victorious after trailing in the water, while the silver medal went to France’s Stephane Bahier and the bronze was awarded to Britain’s Ryan Taylor.

Canada’s Stefan Daniel was the first athlete to take down the finish tape on the day, taking home his first world title with it in men’s PT4, while Germany’s Martin Schulz finished with the silver medal and France’s Yannick Bourseaux took home the bronze.

Daniel also qualified himself a spot on Team Canada for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with the win.

In the women’s PT4 race, defending champion Lauren Steadman of Britain completely crushed the field by holding onto a lead that she earned early on.

Second place went to the US’s Grace Norman, who impressively overtook Kate Doughty in the run to get the silver medal as the Australian ran over for bronze.

The Para-triathlon World Championships formed part of the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, which is scheduled to conclude tomorrow. 



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