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
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