Ruse triathlete Erin Densham led all the way in the 10-kilometre running leg of the women's triathlon, only to be pipped in the final 50 metres of the race for an Olympic silver or gold medal.
Winning bronze, Densham showed true Aussie spirit as she finished a close third behind the eventual winner from Switzerland and the Swedish runner-up.
Finishing as a frontrunner in the cycling leg, Densham showed her authority going into the transition to the run leg as she quickly headed a pack of 22 athletes.
Her strong running was too much for most of the pack, which dropped off after a few kilometres into the run leg, to develop the race into a three-way contest approaching the end of the race.
An exhausted Densham lay on the ground to gather her breath after she finished, but she did Macarthur proud with her fantastic effort taking the bronze.