Katie Zafares was crowned world champion after winning the World Triathlon Series Grand Final in Lausanne ©World Triathlon

Katie Zafares of the United States triumphed in the World Triathlon Series (WTS) Grand Final in Lausanne to earn the overall world title. 

Triathlon does not hold a standalone World Championship, with the sport's global winners named only after the completion of the WTS circuit.

Extra points are awarded in the final, with 1,250 for a race victory instead of the usual 1,000.

Zafares had led the women's leaderboard after seven legs of the season, which has been building up to the finale in the Swiss Olympic capital.

Vincent Luis of France was the overall World Triathlon Series winner ©World Triathlon
Vincent Luis of France was the overall World Triathlon Series winner ©World Triathlon

She completed the course, consisting of a 1.5 kilometre swim in Lake Geneva, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run, in a time of 2hr 02min 45sec, enough to give her the world title.

Jessica Learmonth finished second in 2:02:49, while fellow Briton Georgia Taylor-Brown was third in 2:03:03.

In the men's competition, France's Vincent Luis took the overall title, despite finishing fifth in today's race with 1:51:53.

Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt was the victor, in a time of 1:50:47, his first WTS win.

In second was Spain's Mario Mola in 1:51:03, followed by compatriot Alarza Fernando in 1:51:18.