Australia’s place as a force in triathlon has been restored after winning Commonwealth bronze in the mixed relay on Sunday.

Head triathlon coach Justin Drew said the result meant the team could realistically look ahead to securing a medal at the Paris Olympics.

Australia’s bronze comes after a second at the world series in Hamburg earlier this month. Australia have not won an Olympic triathlon medal since London in 2012.

Jacob Birtwhistle, Matthew Hauser, Natalie van Coevorden and Sophie Linn.Credit:Michael Gleeson

“Why shouldn’t we be there? Tokyo was the anomaly in the relay and there are a number of reasons for that. Now it’s about Paris,” Drew said.

Matt Hauser won a second bronze in two days after driving Australia into the medals after they had fallen back into sixth and adrift of the chasing pack midway through the race.

Drew, the national performance director at Triathlon Australia, defended the decision not to lead off with Hauser and go head-to-head with the two men he shared the podium with on Friday, England’s imperious Alex Yee and New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde.

Admittedly, Australia’s opener Jake Birtwhistle was fourth on Friday, 16 seconds behind Hauser so he is still a strong performer and presently no one in world triathlon can keep up with Yee once he hits the run leg.

“We wanted to put ourselves in the fight and that’s what we did. To come away with another podium is awesome,” Drew said.

“I don’t think anyone should underestimate Jake and where he’s been … but what we saw with his fourth in the individual competition is he is well and truly back.

Birtwhistle was sixth after the swim and ride, but ran strongly to make up ground in his run to bring Australia into third place albeit 25 seconds behind England when he handed over to Natalie van Coeverden.

She moved Australia into second after her swim, but slid quickly back into the chase group once she moved onto the bike and run.

By the time Hauser got in the water, Australia had slipped to fifth, a good distance behind the chase pack of three. He then delivered an outstanding performance to drag Australia back to hand over to Sophie Linn with Australia back with the chase pack now just 16 seconds behind the English.

“I love chasing. Just put your head down and go after the rabbit in front,” he said.

His swim and ride brought Australia back into the chasing pack, his legs were dead by the run, but he was able to hold his position among the pack behind Yee when he handed over to Sophie Linn

On Friday, Linn outsprinted Wales’ Non Stanford to overtake her in the sprint to the line and finish fifth in the individual race. On Sunday, she found herself once more going stride for stride with her in the race to the line. This time it was a fight for silver.

This time it was Stanford who kicked and outlasted Linn.

“I was hoping for a take two and she went and I was like ‘Oh no’ I didn’t quite have the gear I had on Friday,” said Linn.

“There was three of us vying for two positions (when they got off the bike) so there is a lot of pressure coming off the bike knowing there’s only two spots, but I knew I was going to give it everything.”

Linn and Stanford quickly dropped the Kiwi runner and then it was race between the two of them to decide silver and bronze.

“It was not so much pressure (knowing you would win) second or third definitely. Non has a lot of fans out there, a lot of ‘Go Nons’ and we really battled up the back stretch,” said Linn.

“I thought maybe I could get her in the last little bit because we battled it out on Friday the same way, but she was just all class and really strong, so I am happy to bring it home for third.”

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