Mario Mola wins 3rd straight World Triathlon Series title

Mario Mola of Spain won his third consecutive World Triathlon Series men's title after a second-place finish in the final race of the season Sunday in the Gold Coast, Australia.

France's Vincent Luis won in one hour, 44 minutes, 33 seconds — 14 seconds ahead of Mola. Richard Murray of South Africa was third in 1:44:55.

Mola, who won four races during the season, had a lead of more than 800 points in the overall standings heading into Sunday's final race.

Mola, who was crowned junior world champion on the Gold Coast nine years ago, joined countryman Javier Gomez as the only men to have won three successive world titles.

"It's been a great season," he said. "[Gomez] set the path for all the others, particularly Spanish athletes. I could never imagine having three titles."

Mola finished with 6,081 points overall, with Luis on 5,060. Australian Jake Birtwhistle was third with 4,884, followed by Murray with 4,792.