Australia were crowned as mixed relay champions in Hamburg ©Getty Images

Australia were crowned as Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championship winners for the first time after coming from behind to triumph in Hamburg.

The Championships were the first to be held since the International Olympic Committee added the discipline to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme last month. 

Belgium, Japan, Spain and the United States impressed in the early stages of the event, which saw two men and two women each complete a 300 metres swim, a 6.6 kilometre bike ride and a 1.6 km run.

The US looked set to take a grip on the race as they attempted to defend their title, with Ben Kanute leading during the first men's leg.

He was joined in a breakaway by Dorian Coninx of France, but the European nation's challenge started to fade when they received a penalty in transition.

Katie Zaferes kept the US in the lead on the third leg, although Canada, The Netherlands, Britain and Australia were in hot pursuit.

The US were ultimately unable to hold on, with Matthew Mcelroy passed in the closing stages by Australia’s Jacob Birtwhistle.

Birtwhistle, who won silver at the World Triathlon Series event yesterday, led the Australian team of Charlotte McShane, Matthew Hauser and Ashleigh Gentle to gold in 1 hour, 22min and 38sec.

The Championships were held for the first time since the discipline was added to the Olympic programme ©Getty Images
The Championships were held for the first time since the discipline was added to the Olympic programme ©Getty Images

"I will give it to Hamburg, I love it here," said Birtwhistle.

"To come out here with the guys, we were all able to put together a good race and end up as world champions.

"It is pretty awesome."

The US finished as the runners-up after ending just four seconds adrift, with The Netherlands rounding off the podium in 1:22:47.

Britain missed out on the medal positions, ending fourth in 1:22:52.