Hong Kong officials apologise for fresh national anthem blunder, launch internal review after triathlon mix-up
- Team GB’s Sian Rainsley wins elite women’s race, only for local organisers to play Spanish national anthem at medal ceremony
- Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez Garcia triumphs in men’s event, and does get to hear the Marcha Real all the way through
Organisers of Sunday’s Triathlon World Cup in Hong Kong have apologised after the wrong national anthem was played during the women’s medal ceremony.
Gold medal winner Sian Rainsley of Team GB was standing on the podium having won the elite women’s race waiting to hear God Save the King, only for the Spanish national anthem, Marcha Real, to be played instead.
The Spanish anthem continued for 40 seconds. An awkward silence lasting more than two minutes followed, before the correct anthem was played.
Red faced officials from the Triathlon Association of Hong Kong, China, apologised, and promised “an internal review to prevent similar incidents from happening again”.
Victory in Hong Kong marked arguably the best result of Rainsley’s career, as she overcame experienced American pair Katie Zaferes and Kirsten Kasper to win her first World Cup race.
A Youth Olympic Games silver medalist in 2014, Rainsley missed most of 2023 because of a serious ankle injury, but the 26-year-old is now part of the Team GB Olympic selection conversation.
Rainsley, along with Zaferes and Kamper, second and third, respectively, were evidently amused by the error, which was corrected after a long wait.
“The organiser sincerely apologizes for the playing of the wrong national anthem during the women’s elite category award ceremony,” officials said in a statement. “The Spanish national anthem of the men’s elite group champion was played in error.
“Corrections were made immediately, and an apology has been made to the affected winning athlete. The organiser will conduct an internal review to prevent similar incidents from happening again.”
The men’s event was won by Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez Garcia, who did enjoy his own anthem, as the red and yellow Spanish flag was raised.
Gonzalez’s compatriot, Antonio Serrat Seoane, was second, with Asian Games champion, Kenji Nener, of Japan, third.
