None of the New Zealand triathletes competing at the Grand Final of the ITU World Championships in Beijing were able to make the top eight and secure a place at the London Olympic Games.
Cold conditions took their toll with a number of athletes struggling to retain body heat on the demanding Beijing course, but the British Brownlee brothers had no trouble, older brother Alistair winning in impressive fashion with brother Jonathan third behind Swiss Sven Reiderer.
Alistair Brownlee's second triathlon world title follows his win in the 2009 championship.
The 23-year-old won in one hour 48 minutes seven seconds.
Best of the New Zealanders was Ryan Sissons in 14th, but another potential triathlon star emerged with 17-year-old Waikato student Mikayla Nielsen winning World Championship gold in the Elite Junior under-19 women's race.
