Javier Gomez wins triathlon world championship

(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports)CHICAGO — Spain’s Javier Gomez didn’t win the grand final, but his second-place finish was enough to win the triathlon’s world championship. It’s his fifth world title and third in a row, placing him among the most dominant athletes in the world, regardless of sport.

“I think I will need some time, and maybe some years, to understand what I’ve done over the past nine years. It’s amazing, and I’m really proud of my career,” Gomez said Saturday after the race.

His countryman Mario Mola walked away with the grand final title, and did it in the final lap of the run portion of the race. Mola and Gomez swapped the lead several times before Mola finally…