GLASGOW - England's Jodie Stimpson won the women's triathlon gold at the Commonwealth Games yesterday, the first medal of the multi-sport event.

Stimpson, a silver medal winner in the World Triathlon Series in 2013, sprinted clear with 400 metres remaining of the final 10km run to win a thrilling race that started with a 1.5km swim and a 40km cycle around Strathclyde Loch.

Canada's Kirsten Sweetland claimed silver, with England's Vicky Holland taking bronze in warm, sunny conditions.

Meanwhile, England's double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Games due to fitness concerns, his team announced yesterday.

The 5000 and 10000 metres Olympic and world champion was recently laid low by illness and has decided to pull out of the Glasgow event in order to work on his fitness ahead of next month's European Championships in Zurich.

"I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games," Farah, 31, said in a statement released by Team England.

"I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it's not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow."

Farah had been preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Font Romeu in southern France and said t he will remain there in the build-up to the European Championships, which begin on August 12.

"The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me," he added.

"Training is getting better here in Font Romeu but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013."

Farah's withdrawal falls on the first day of competition in Glasgow and robs the event of a major draw. - AFP

l The swimming finals, which also featured South Africans, were held late last night.