MICHELLE Parsons returned from the Elite World Long Distance Duathlon Championships in Frederica, Denmark, with a team gold medal.

Parsons was battered and bruised but managed an individual seventh place finish for her efforts.

The Worcester Triathlon Club athlete yet again showed her abilities in the long-distance events are a match to any other female in the world.

But for the misfortune of a puncture and subsequent crash on the bike section of the race, she would have possibly claimed a top-five finish.

The ITU World Championships attract elite athletes from all over the globe and this year was no exception.

Erika Csomor from Hungary and Ulrike Schwalbe from Germany, the previous two female world holders, were joined by the up-and-coming European champion, Holland's Yvonne Van Klerken.

Parsons made a steady start to the race, finishing the first 15.6 kilometre run in 12th position in one hour and 32 seconds.

She then raced through transition and started the 90km bike section in torrential rain and strong winds.

Her undoubted strength on the bike soon saw her moving up through the field.

By the end of the second of her three laps, she had reached fifth overall and was gaining on fourth.

At this point, she punctured but, unperturbed, continued with a flat front tyre hoping to make the wheel change area some 5km up the road.

But, during this 5km stretch, the second misfortune struck as Parsons' bike slipped away on a corner as the rain had made roads fairly treacherous.

After a short spell lying dazed on the ground, she picked herself up, remounted her bike and continued on the course to the wheel stop area.

Parsons swapped her wheel and bravely finished the bike section, losing two places in the process.

After persuading the race referee she was fit to carry on, she completed the second 7.5km run, maintaining her seventh position overall and ensuring the team won gold.

She crossed the finish in an overall time of 4 hours, 17 minutes and 40 seconds.

Although she was some time behind winner Van Klerken (4-04), Parsons was only 10 minutes off a podium position.

She now takes a well-earned rest before starting the triathlon season at Ellesmere with a target of completing her first Ironman distance triathlon next month in `The Longest Day' triathlon in Wolverhampton.