PLYMOUTH pentathlete Kerenza Bryson made sure she had a week to remember by winning the women’s individual gold medal for Great Britain at World Cup 4 in Sofia.
It was her first-ever World Cup medal – and Great Britain’s first individual one this season – and it came just days after she receive news that she had passed her final exams after six years of studying medicine at the University of Plymouth.
“I’m so happy,” said Bryson after her breakthrough win. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, I can’t really believe it.
“I went into this competition dreaming of a podium but it feels like it’s been a long week.
“The course isn’t that easy and I’m not going to lie, I didn’t start the day thinking I was going to end up on the podium so I’m so, so happy.
“I’m not going to forget this. The rest of the girls did really well as well. We’ve done really well to get all four (British) girls to the final and to finish so strongly.”
She added: “It’s been a really good week for me. I’ve spent six years studying medicine and I did my last exam a few weeks ago and got the results on Tuesday, on the day of the qualification. I was really happy to find out that I passed my exams.”
Bryson enjoyed a perfect clear round in the ride in the final on Saturday and that was shortly followed by a number of successful extra hits in the fencing bonus round – a discipline she excelled in all week.
After starting the laser-run in fourth, 14 seconds off the lead, the Plymouth-based athlete made quick work of the gap and her rivals and by the halfway point she had taken the lead and was still on the charge.
Bryson seemed to go from strength-to-strength and despite a slightly slower final visit to the range, and with her Korean rival Seungmin Seong chasing her down, she looked comfortably in control of the race as the final metres ticked away, crossing the line with a beaming smile to win her first ever World Cup medal of her career.
In the men’s event, fellow Plymouth pentathlete Myles Pillage also made the individual final and finished 15th.
Bryson will also be in action on Sunday in the mixed relay event with Charlie Brown.