Athens: Kate Allen produced a stunning run to overhaul long-time leader Loretta Harrop in the last 150 metres of the women’s Olympic triathlon on Wednesday and win Austria’s first gold in Athens.

The Australia-born 34-year-old, who became an Austrian citizen only two years ago, was one of the last out of the 1500m swim and completed the gruelling 40km bike leg in 28th place, 2:48 minutes behind Harrop, who had led from the start.

Australian Harrop, the 1999 world champion and runner-up this year, appeared a certain winner as she pulled clear of a trio of Americans on the baking three-lap 10 km run.

Andre Ward saved the American boxing team from an historic failure and aims to heal his country’s battered pride by pursuing Olympic gold.

The light-heavyweight’s convincing quarter-final win over Russian world champion Evgeny Makarenko secured him at least a bronze and means the US squad will not leave the Games without a boxing medal for the first time.

With just another fighter left in the quarter finals, middleweight Andre Dirrell, the Americans are still about to suffer their worst Olympic performance.