So some people have suggested to me that blogs are supposed to have original content... My plan starting this blog was to track the various news articles about the athletes I work with in the build up to the games, which has provided plenty of content to keep me busy with updates. However, there will be a few opportunities in the coming weeks to provide some original perspective and commentary on the final days leading into the Beijing games, as well as during the games. The endurance world keeps moving after the games, so I'll keep this going as we move into the fall season and beyond.
Anyway, here are a few recent articles:
Colin Jenkins' CBC Olympic blogs here
In his element out of the elements
Triathlon team forego athletes village for mansion and fresh air
Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Victoria triathlete Simon Whitfield won't be with the Canadian team when it marches into the Olympic stadium for the 2008 Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing on Aug. 8.
Whitfield will be watching them on television at a Victoria bike shop with training mates, friends and family, and a big order of Chinese takeout.
"We've already organized it to be at the bike shop with some Chinese food," Whitfield, who won the 2000 Olympic gold medal and finished 11th in Athens four years ago, said Tuesday.
More at canada.com
Brown bagging it in Beijing
HAYLEY MICK
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
July 30, 2008 at 9:23 AM EDT
Forget the Peking duck. When the Beijing Olympics kick off next week, Canadian athletes will be dining on quinoa and summer vegetable salad, baked salmon and organic chickpeas - dished out by premier Canadian chefs imported to the Games.
For the first time, the Canadian Olympic Committee has hired two chefs who will cater low-fat meals at a Canadian performance centre. Some teams, such as Canada's triathletes, have also packed personal cooks, while other teams will dine in hotels outside the athletes' village on tailor-made Western menus hammered out through delicate negotiations with Chinese kitchen staff.
More at Globe and Mail.com
Whitfield still has eyes on the big prize
Eric Koreen, National Post
Published: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
After an 11th-place finish in Athens, triathlete Simon Whitfield will try to climb back to the podium this August in Beijing.
In 2000, Simon Whitfield completed the triathlon of his life, winning the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics as a 25-year-old underdog.
Eight years later, Whitfield thinks that racer would have his lunch handed to him in the upcoming Beijing games.
"I think I couldn't swim, bike or run with myself if you could ghost-race yourself from eight years ago," Whitfield, the Victoria resident born in Kingston, Ont., said during a conference call on Tuesday. "I couldn't compete back then.
More at the National Post
Whitfield likes his start position in Beijing
Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
As athletes go, Simon Whitfield isn't particularly superstitious, but the Victoria triathlete isn't above latching on to what he believes will be good omens.
Nearly a year ago, the new licence plate he picked up just happened to read 001 FPL, which Whitfield quickly interpreted as reading first place. Now, he's learned that he's drawn the No. 16 position in the transition area at the Beijing Olympics.
"That's my birthdate, that's got to be good luck," Whitfield said Tuesday on a conference all with Canadian reporters.
More at the Vancouver Sun
Whitfield: My brakes must be rubbing
Well it's been a couple years since I turned in one of "those" races. To sum it up I was looking down at my brakes about halfway through the bike and thinking they must be rubbing on the rim because I can't possibly feel this bad. It's disappointing to come all the way to New York City and DNF a race I've won in the past. But that's racing.
More at the Globe and Mail
BONUS
Here is a real whopper of a story and here
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Jordan Rapp's Felt DA
Jordan Rapp's Felt DA
Written by: Herbert Krabel
Date: Mon Jul 28 2008
Today we are taking a closer look at the Felt DA of Jordan Rapp for our series "the bikes of the pros." Jordan has posted some of the fastest bike splits in a few races he has entered and we wanted to know more about his setup.
More on ST
Just remember... its NOT about the bike :-) (really. I am serious.)
Written by: Herbert Krabel
Date: Mon Jul 28 2008
Today we are taking a closer look at the Felt DA of Jordan Rapp for our series "the bikes of the pros." Jordan has posted some of the fastest bike splits in a few races he has entered and we wanted to know more about his setup.
More on ST
Just remember... its NOT about the bike :-) (really. I am serious.)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sydney Olympics revisited
247.com has a retrospective look at the Sydney Olympic Games, of course with a Brit slant, but worth a read:
Sydney Olympics revisited
Posted by: Annie Emmerson
Posted on: Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Eight years ago triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney, and since then it has become one of the fastest growing participation sports Great Britain has ever seen. In our Beijing Bound series, Annie Emmerson takes a look back at the sport's history, the 2000 Olympic course, the British team and the athletes that won the first ever Olympic triathlon medals.
More at Tri247.com
Sydney Olympics revisited
Posted by: Annie Emmerson
Posted on: Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Eight years ago triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney, and since then it has become one of the fastest growing participation sports Great Britain has ever seen. In our Beijing Bound series, Annie Emmerson takes a look back at the sport's history, the 2000 Olympic course, the British team and the athletes that won the first ever Olympic triathlon medals.
More at Tri247.com
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
BBQ with Greg Lemond
Thanks to Kevin of the GearWest bike shop Yesterday we went to a BBQ at a fund raiser for a local school district that Greg Lemond was supporting. After doing a group ride with the Gear West tri club, we headed over for some food and were able to chat with Greg for a while. Greg was my cycling hero when I was racing, and it was great to meet him and hear some of his stories.
Years have changed Whitfield but his desire for an Olympic medal remains
Years have changed Whitfield but his desire for an Olympic medal remains
Jim Morris, THE CANADIAN PRESS
There have been changes in his sport and dramatic shifts in his personal life, but a constant remains buried inside triathlete Simon Whitfield.
He wants to win a medal at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. The method of how he gets back on the podium may be different, but the desire remains the same.
"I'm a competitive bugger," Whitfield said recently, huffing over his cellphone while he rode his bicycle training in Victoria. "The way things are going I am on track to be very competitive, not just podium, but to possibly win.
"Of course that's the goal. That would be an extraordinary thing to do."
It will be an older, wiser Whitfield that will compete in the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike race and 10-kilometre run at the Ming Tomb Reservoir in the Changping District of northern Beijing on Aug. 19.
The kid who won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games has matured into a husband and father. With the responsibilities of maturity have come the security of family and an understanding of what is important in the world.
"I was a wide-eyed kid when I went to Sydney," said Whitfield, who turned 33 in May. "I had an amazing race on that one day and caught that Olympic fire.
"Now I'm a father. I'm trying to help run a training group, trying to be involved in helping Triathlon Canada grow. I have a lot more responsibilities. At times that feels like a bit of a burden and at times that's very rewarding.
"I think life is just a little more complicated now. But with (daughter) Pippa and (wife) Jennie, it's a lot more rewarding."
More at Canadaeast.com
Jim Morris, THE CANADIAN PRESS
There have been changes in his sport and dramatic shifts in his personal life, but a constant remains buried inside triathlete Simon Whitfield.
He wants to win a medal at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. The method of how he gets back on the podium may be different, but the desire remains the same.
"I'm a competitive bugger," Whitfield said recently, huffing over his cellphone while he rode his bicycle training in Victoria. "The way things are going I am on track to be very competitive, not just podium, but to possibly win.
"Of course that's the goal. That would be an extraordinary thing to do."
It will be an older, wiser Whitfield that will compete in the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike race and 10-kilometre run at the Ming Tomb Reservoir in the Changping District of northern Beijing on Aug. 19.
The kid who won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games has matured into a husband and father. With the responsibilities of maturity have come the security of family and an understanding of what is important in the world.
"I was a wide-eyed kid when I went to Sydney," said Whitfield, who turned 33 in May. "I had an amazing race on that one day and caught that Olympic fire.
"Now I'm a father. I'm trying to help run a training group, trying to be involved in helping Triathlon Canada grow. I have a lot more responsibilities. At times that feels like a bit of a burden and at times that's very rewarding.
"I think life is just a little more complicated now. But with (daughter) Pippa and (wife) Jennie, it's a lot more rewarding."
More at Canadaeast.com
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Whitfield turns in a record-breaking run
Whitfield turns in a record-breaking run
Simon Whitfield will be in Beijing for the Summer Games, as will women's winner Emma Snowsill.
By JACKIE FRIEDMAN, Star Tribune
Last update: July 12, 2008 - 9:55 PM
MEN'S WINNER simon whitfield (1:48:01) women's winner emma snowsill (1:58:04)
Simon Whitfield and Emma Snowsill, winners of the men's and women's elite division of the Life Time Fitness Triathlon, stood on the podium Saturday, their $60,000 winnings in hand.
Greg Bennett, who came in third, lunged onto the stage and toward the top finishers. He gave Snowsill a congratulatory kiss on the cheek -- then offered the same to Whitfield, who outright denied it, before patting Bennett on the back, smiling with appreciation.
Whitfield broke Bennett's course record, finishing in 1 hour, 48 minutes and 1 second. Snowsill finished in 1:58:04 for a series-record third Life Time victory.
More at the Star-Tribune.com
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Photo of the Day
Lifetime Fitness Triathlon 2008
Pro Men:
1. Simon Whitfield (CAN) 1:48:01
2. Andy Potts (USA) 1:48:04
3. Greg Bennett (AUS) 1:48:07
4. Stuart Hayes (GBR) 1:48:48
5. Matt Reed (USA) 1:48:54
6. Brent McMahon (CAN) 1:48:56
7. Paul Tichelaar (CAN) 1:49:23
8. Craig Alexander (AUS) 1:49:34
9. Paul Matthews (AUS) 1:50:41
10. Hunter Kemper (USA) 1:50:47
Friday, July 11, 2008
Whitfield: He's a triathlete now!!!
Whitfield: He's a triathlete now!!!
Dave Leeder, today at 1:56 PM EDT
He's a triathlete now!!! But in those cold winter months Andrew Ference plays hockey for the Boston Bruins. He's a first-line defenceman with Zdeno Chara and went to general manager for the Bruins on TSN's Off The Record and when Michael Landsberg asked the GM what was one of the most important moves he'd made in the last couple years he answered "bringing in Andrew Ference because he brought so much character to our team". I met Andrew through RIGHT TO PLAY after seeing a Cervelo Soloist in one of his "what play means to me" photos (After seeing how fast he rides I figured it must be the bike and switched to Cervelo). He came and trained with our squad in Victoria last summer for a few days and went head-to-head with us in some bike sprints. At this year's World Championships, Andrew showed up the day before the race and joined me on the "athletes only" course tour ride, we solicited some funny looks and the Aussies asked me later if the dude with the "tats" could swim.
More on the Globe and Mail
Dave Leeder, today at 1:56 PM EDT
He's a triathlete now!!! But in those cold winter months Andrew Ference plays hockey for the Boston Bruins. He's a first-line defenceman with Zdeno Chara and went to general manager for the Bruins on TSN's Off The Record and when Michael Landsberg asked the GM what was one of the most important moves he'd made in the last couple years he answered "bringing in Andrew Ference because he brought so much character to our team". I met Andrew through RIGHT TO PLAY after seeing a Cervelo Soloist in one of his "what play means to me" photos (After seeing how fast he rides I figured it must be the bike and switched to Cervelo). He came and trained with our squad in Victoria last summer for a few days and went head-to-head with us in some bike sprints. At this year's World Championships, Andrew showed up the day before the race and joined me on the "athletes only" course tour ride, we solicited some funny looks and the Aussies asked me later if the dude with the "tats" could swim.
More on the Globe and Mail
Mimi Boyle Checks In With Jordan Rapp (again)
Mimi Boyle Checks In With Jordan Rapp
By Mimi Boyle
7/10/2008
Keeping up with Jordan in May was a full time job as he raced his way from Boise, ID to Canada! He did manage to stop for a while and chat with us…here’s what he had to say about back-to-back race weekends, and his apparent passion for Western movies…
Mimi Boyle: You recently did two 70.3 distance races back to back weekends. What made you choose these races and how was the recovery between the two?
Jordan Rapp: Everyone says you get sort of a "freebie" race after Ironman about six weeks after, when you've gotten a chance to fully recover and absorb the load of the day, so I figured I'd try to take advantage of that. So the timing of that coincided with the first race, Shawnigan Lake. The race was local, so it was easy to do since it involved driving roughly 30 minutes to the race course. The post-Ironman fitness was really nice; I had a much better race than I thought I would given the amount of training I'd done right before the race.
More on Xtri
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Bike track set to be recycled in twist of Games legacy
Bike track set to be recycled in twist of Games legacy
SHANNON MONEO
Special to The Globe and Mail
July 8, 2008
VICTORIA -- A legacy from the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games - one of Canada's eight velodromes - is slated to be buried by tonnes of dirt and to resurface as a sports field. It's a recycling of facilities that 2010 Olympic Games hosts don't expect to carry out when it comes to their own legacies.
"Our whole plan is based on postgame uses," City of Richmond spokesman Ted Townsend said, of the 2010 speed-skating oval. "We really looked long and hard at the experience of other Olympic venues. Most admitted when they built facilities, they didn't consider legacies."
After the Winter Olympics finish, Richmond's $178-million centre will be converted to eight basketball-size courts, two ice rinks and a track and field zone where athletes can seriously train or simply have fun.
In Whistler, the Nordic centre, sliding centre and a portion of the athletes village will become the property of the Whistler Legacies Society after the 2010 Games. "We're being left this gift," Paul Shore, manager of the Whistler Legacies Society, says.
It's a gift that will keep giving: Everyone from high-level athletes to weekend warriors will be able to use Whistler's Olympic venues in perpetuity, he said.
But in the Victoria suburb of Colwood, Mayor Jody Twa said the town is going ahead with plans to bury the outdoor oval cycling track and replace it with an artificial field and a 1,500-seat stadium, forecast to cost $4.8-million.
More at the Globe and Mail
Really disappointing to be losing this legacy, one of few velodromes in Canada. Here in Victoria we already lost one of the all weather tracks in place of more artificial turfs. If they want more turfs, I say build them somewhere else, don't destroy perfectly good existing facilities.
SHANNON MONEO
Special to The Globe and Mail
July 8, 2008
VICTORIA -- A legacy from the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games - one of Canada's eight velodromes - is slated to be buried by tonnes of dirt and to resurface as a sports field. It's a recycling of facilities that 2010 Olympic Games hosts don't expect to carry out when it comes to their own legacies.
"Our whole plan is based on postgame uses," City of Richmond spokesman Ted Townsend said, of the 2010 speed-skating oval. "We really looked long and hard at the experience of other Olympic venues. Most admitted when they built facilities, they didn't consider legacies."
After the Winter Olympics finish, Richmond's $178-million centre will be converted to eight basketball-size courts, two ice rinks and a track and field zone where athletes can seriously train or simply have fun.
In Whistler, the Nordic centre, sliding centre and a portion of the athletes village will become the property of the Whistler Legacies Society after the 2010 Games. "We're being left this gift," Paul Shore, manager of the Whistler Legacies Society, says.
It's a gift that will keep giving: Everyone from high-level athletes to weekend warriors will be able to use Whistler's Olympic venues in perpetuity, he said.
But in the Victoria suburb of Colwood, Mayor Jody Twa said the town is going ahead with plans to bury the outdoor oval cycling track and replace it with an artificial field and a 1,500-seat stadium, forecast to cost $4.8-million.
More at the Globe and Mail
Really disappointing to be losing this legacy, one of few velodromes in Canada. Here in Victoria we already lost one of the all weather tracks in place of more artificial turfs. If they want more turfs, I say build them somewhere else, don't destroy perfectly good existing facilities.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Rousing sendoff for Island's Olympic athletes today at Bastion Square
Rousing sendoff for Island's Olympic athletes today at Bastion Square
Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist
Published: Sunday, July 06, 2008
Maybe the old blue flag of the Colony of Vancouver Island should be dusted off and marched in to the magnificent Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing on Aug. 8 and again Sept. 6 for the opening ceremonies, respectively, of the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
If the Island was a separate nation, it wouldn't fare too badly in either event. There are entire countries that won't have the Island's representation at Beijing of between 49 and 53 Olympians and Paralympians, pending final Canadian team selection and qualification trials
More at the Times Colonist
Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist
Published: Sunday, July 06, 2008
Maybe the old blue flag of the Colony of Vancouver Island should be dusted off and marched in to the magnificent Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing on Aug. 8 and again Sept. 6 for the opening ceremonies, respectively, of the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
If the Island was a separate nation, it wouldn't fare too badly in either event. There are entire countries that won't have the Island's representation at Beijing of between 49 and 53 Olympians and Paralympians, pending final Canadian team selection and qualification trials
More at the Times Colonist
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Interview: Stuart Hayes
Interview: Stuart Hayes
Posted by: Annie Emmerson
Posted on: Friday 4th July 2008
Two weeks ago we spoke to Andrea Whitcombe about her disappointment of not making the Beijing Olympic team. Someone else who was also disappointed not to make the team was Stuart Hayes, but unlike Andrea, who had been suffering from a serious injury problem, Stuart's Olympic dream ended not because of illness or injury, but because of a flat tyre. Stuart has been one of the leading British athletes for nearly 15 years. In 2004 he had one of his best years ever, finishing the year as the third ranked athlete in the World, in that same year he just missed out on Olympic selection, but did go to the Games as the number one reserve. Known for his happy go lucky and positive attitude, he has quickly overcome this year's Olympic disappointment and is very excited about his 2008 season as Annie Emmerson found out.
>>>>>
AE The guys that are going to the Olympics all had good races in Madrid, but obviously, the unexpected and quite outstanding result of the day, came from young Al Brownlee. What did you think of his performance?
SH To be honest I think all three of them did really well! It was a real hard man's race and considering the conditions they all guts it out and did a great job, people were really cold on the bike and a lot of people pulled out. Al's performance was amazing, he's an incredibly tough athlete and trains really hard, in fact he'll do anything to get a session in. I remember last year when I was training with him in France, he'd been hit by a car and come off his bike, but the day after he went to the lake with his wetsuit and was trying to swim one armed - the other arm was to sore from the crash - around the lake. I guess he is a bit of nutty, but that's what makes him the athlete that he is and that's how he qualified on the day because he's a hard nut.
AE A lot was made of the weather conditions in Madrid and a few athletes have complained that the conditions were very different to what they will be like in Beijing, what are your thoughts on this?
SH We'll we all had three selection races to try and qualify, but no one did in the first two - the World Championships in Hamburg and the Beijing World Cup - we were fully aware of what was needed to make the team in those first two races so it came down to Madrid. A race is a race, no matter what the conditions are, if it had been boiling hot people would have been moaning that it was too hot. Beijing could be similar to Madrid, as apparently it will be cyclone season, so it could be pouring with rain.
>>>>>
Read the full article on on Tri247.com
Posted by: Annie Emmerson
Posted on: Friday 4th July 2008
Two weeks ago we spoke to Andrea Whitcombe about her disappointment of not making the Beijing Olympic team. Someone else who was also disappointed not to make the team was Stuart Hayes, but unlike Andrea, who had been suffering from a serious injury problem, Stuart's Olympic dream ended not because of illness or injury, but because of a flat tyre. Stuart has been one of the leading British athletes for nearly 15 years. In 2004 he had one of his best years ever, finishing the year as the third ranked athlete in the World, in that same year he just missed out on Olympic selection, but did go to the Games as the number one reserve. Known for his happy go lucky and positive attitude, he has quickly overcome this year's Olympic disappointment and is very excited about his 2008 season as Annie Emmerson found out.
>>>>>
AE The guys that are going to the Olympics all had good races in Madrid, but obviously, the unexpected and quite outstanding result of the day, came from young Al Brownlee. What did you think of his performance?
SH To be honest I think all three of them did really well! It was a real hard man's race and considering the conditions they all guts it out and did a great job, people were really cold on the bike and a lot of people pulled out. Al's performance was amazing, he's an incredibly tough athlete and trains really hard, in fact he'll do anything to get a session in. I remember last year when I was training with him in France, he'd been hit by a car and come off his bike, but the day after he went to the lake with his wetsuit and was trying to swim one armed - the other arm was to sore from the crash - around the lake. I guess he is a bit of nutty, but that's what makes him the athlete that he is and that's how he qualified on the day because he's a hard nut.
AE A lot was made of the weather conditions in Madrid and a few athletes have complained that the conditions were very different to what they will be like in Beijing, what are your thoughts on this?
SH We'll we all had three selection races to try and qualify, but no one did in the first two - the World Championships in Hamburg and the Beijing World Cup - we were fully aware of what was needed to make the team in those first two races so it came down to Madrid. A race is a race, no matter what the conditions are, if it had been boiling hot people would have been moaning that it was too hot. Beijing could be similar to Madrid, as apparently it will be cyclone season, so it could be pouring with rain.
>>>>>
Read the full article on on Tri247.com
Friday, July 4, 2008
Tony Soprano pushes me on
Tony Soprano pushes me on
Posted by Colin Jenkins | Jul 2, 08 10:02 AM |
Since I moved to Victoria, B.C., three years ago my life has become rather simplified. It has become a continuous rotation of eat, sleep, train, repeat. No days off, no weekends to hang out. The days become a blur and I never seem to know what day it is. Mondays become Tuesdays become Fridays and before you know it we are back on Monday.
The reason why I have enjoyed the triathlon training in Victoria and why it has been successful for me is because there are no distractions. I have no family out here so I never have any family commitments. Also, my friends are part of our squad with similar goals and work ethic so they never bug me to go out partying, drinking and staying out late.
More at CBC.ca
Posted by Colin Jenkins | Jul 2, 08 10:02 AM |
Since I moved to Victoria, B.C., three years ago my life has become rather simplified. It has become a continuous rotation of eat, sleep, train, repeat. No days off, no weekends to hang out. The days become a blur and I never seem to know what day it is. Mondays become Tuesdays become Fridays and before you know it we are back on Monday.
The reason why I have enjoyed the triathlon training in Victoria and why it has been successful for me is because there are no distractions. I have no family out here so I never have any family commitments. Also, my friends are part of our squad with similar goals and work ethic so they never bug me to go out partying, drinking and staying out late.
More at CBC.ca
Canada's Cervelo Cycles a major player in Tour de France, Olympics
Canada's Cervelo Cycles a major player in Tour de France, Olympics
TORONTO — Some of the fastest legs in the world will pedal Canadian-made bikes in both the Tour de France and at the Olympic Games this summer.
This is the sixth year of the Tour that the bottoms of the multi-national Team CSC will be on bikes designed by Toronto's Cervelo Cycles. The 95th Tour de France opens Saturday in Brest, France. The 21-stage, 3,500-kilometre race ends July 27 in Paris.
CSC Saxo Bank includes previous stage winners Fabian Cancellera of Spain, Jens Voigt of Germany and perennial contender Carlos Sastre of Spain.
The Canadian men's triathlon team - Paul Tichelaar, Colin Jenkins and gold medallist Simon Whitfield - will be on Cervelo bikes in the Olympic Games. World champion Javier Gomez of Spain will also be on a Cervelo in Beijing.
More at http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ijYz6hiWDJbggp2Cd8kRQCi-_UPg
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Andrew McCartney
Andrew placed 1st in the Newton Heights race in the Victoria Cycling League race yesterday. This was his third 1st place of the year, nice racing Andrew!
http://duanebc.com/raceresults2008/VCL2008results.html
Another article where the author doesn't speak to anyone involved in the descision making process
Triathlon: Great expectations
Pressure? Accountability? Bring it on
Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
When the excrement hit the spokes during the contretemps that surrounded the selection of Canada's men's Olympic team during the world triathlon championships in Vancouver in early June, Simon Whitfield was caught in the splash.
The 2000 Olympic champion from Victoria was seen to have been a key player in Triathlon Canada having set tough qualifying standards. Only Whitfield met the standard, meaning the federation's high-performance committee wound up selecting the other two men, adding Paul Tichelaar of Edmonton and, in the most controversial move, Whitfield's training partner, Colin Jenkins, over stronger overall athletes Brent McMahon and Kyle Jones.
Read the rest at Vancouver Sun
Why let the facts get in the way of a good story? :-)
Pressure? Accountability? Bring it on
Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
When the excrement hit the spokes during the contretemps that surrounded the selection of Canada's men's Olympic team during the world triathlon championships in Vancouver in early June, Simon Whitfield was caught in the splash.
The 2000 Olympic champion from Victoria was seen to have been a key player in Triathlon Canada having set tough qualifying standards. Only Whitfield met the standard, meaning the federation's high-performance committee wound up selecting the other two men, adding Paul Tichelaar of Edmonton and, in the most controversial move, Whitfield's training partner, Colin Jenkins, over stronger overall athletes Brent McMahon and Kyle Jones.
Read the rest at Vancouver Sun
Why let the facts get in the way of a good story? :-)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Jones making the best of Olympic team snub
Jones making the best of Olympic team snub
By Herb Garbutt
Sports
Jul 02, 2008
Since the world championships, when he found out he wouldn't be a member of Canada's Olympic triathlon team, Kyle Jones has been in a bit of fog.
"Obviously I was disappointed,"said Jones, who was named an alternate and will still travel to Beijing. "It took a few days to sink in. When they originally told me, they said I hadn't made the team and then right away said I was going to be an alternate. I wasn't happy about not making the team but now that it has sunk in, I'm going to take whatever I can from it. It will be a good learning experience."
More at the Oakville Beaver
By Herb Garbutt
Sports
Jul 02, 2008
Since the world championships, when he found out he wouldn't be a member of Canada's Olympic triathlon team, Kyle Jones has been in a bit of fog.
"Obviously I was disappointed,"said Jones, who was named an alternate and will still travel to Beijing. "It took a few days to sink in. When they originally told me, they said I hadn't made the team and then right away said I was going to be an alternate. I wasn't happy about not making the team but now that it has sunk in, I'm going to take whatever I can from it. It will be a good learning experience."
More at the Oakville Beaver
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