@DaveWh Has she said that? Or does the triathlon community just know that now because of her reaction/“symptoms”? Reason I ask is that besides being an amazing champion (“Queen of Kona”), that clip has become synonymous with “bonking”. When ppl use the term, it literally flashes in my mind. I can even hear Tesh’s voiceover. But I’m more than happy to be corrected on this one. 
As you and others have alluded to, the term has become somewhat of a catch-all for hydration and nutritionally related degradation in performance. Not quite as vague as “Hitting the Wall” for marathoners back in the day (could be several causes, not always fuel).