Behrens was more than 40 seconds short of the French leader Candice Denizot after the 750 metres swim, but closed in put herself in contention after completing the 20 kilometres cycle in 32 mins 6sec.

Denizot still led by 10 seconds after the second transition to the 5km run, but momentum was now with Behrens, with Japan's Chisato Nakajima - wearing the number one jersey - also involved at the top end of the race,

The German clocked 16:54 on the run to clinch the gold medal by 7sec, finishing the race with a time of 1:01:01.

Tilda Månsson of Sweden was the fastest in the final leg of the race as she notched 16:51 over 5km to secure second place.

"I hoped that I could take her [Behrens] but it didn’t work this time - hopefully next time," Månsson said.

No other athlete clocked sub-17min during the run, with María Casals Mojica of Spain the next best with 17:13.

That helped her earn bronze with a finishing time of 1:01:17, and she commented afterwards: "I had a gap to make up after the swim and I knew I had to bike really hard because the first group were around 20 seconds ahead of us.

"My goal was to be first out of transition, but it was very difficult, and I was a little bit behind the others.

"I ran the first kilometre really hard and then after that, it was only pain and I gave it all."

Casals' compatriot Helena Moragas Molina was 18sec further back in fourth, while Denizot had to settle for sixth place as she clocked 1:01:40.

Nakajima faded during the run, completing it in 18:02 as her time of 1:02.00 secured 12^th place.