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Countdown to Beijing '08 - Triathlon outlook
// USOC Media Services // October 16, 2006
Outlook
From the country that invented the sport of triathlon, athletes from the U.S. are planning to take their rightful place at the top of the medal stand at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Building off of the bronze medal performance in the Athens Games by Susan Williams, USA Triathlon has high hopes for an experienced group of male athletes and a quickly improving group of new women who are emerging onto the world stage after the retirement of Olympians Sheila Taormina, Barb Lindquist and bronze medalist Williams.
Currently the U.S. has some of the top male athletes in the world on the USA Triathlon National Team, including world-ranked No. 1 and two-time Olympian Hunter Kemper, former world No. 1 and current seventh in the world rankings Mark Fretta, and tenth ranked and Athens Olympian Andy Potts. All three men are strong contenders for the 2008 Olympic Team along with up-and-comer Jarrod Shoemaker, who won the 2005 Under 23 World Championship, Athens Olympian Victor Plata, former New Zealander Matt Reed, and the most experienced member of the national team, Joe Umphenour.
On the women’s side, the USA Triathlon national team is led by former world number one Laura Bennett, who holds numerous World Championship medals. Hot on her heels is rising star and 2006 U.S. National Champion Sarah Haskins. National Team members Becky Lavelle, Sara McLarty, and 2000 Olympian in water polo, Julie Swail, also promise to challenge for a spot on the 2008 team.
The USA Triathlon team members are coming together under the direction of National Teams Coach Cliff English, who joined the staff officially in January of 2006. Coach English was the 2004 Triathlon Canada Coach of the Year for his work with Canadian Olympian Samantha McGlone and is working closely with the National Team athletes and their coaches while providing personal coaching to those located at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. USA Triathlon has also enlisted previously mentioned Olympians Barb Lindquist and bronze medalist Susan Williams to assist with coaching of potential 2008 and 2012 Olympians on the Under 23 and Junior Squads. Sport Performance Director Scott Schnitzspahn leads this talented and experienced group of coaches.
Storylines
Kemper still at top of U.S. Triathletes
Hunter Kemper is hoping the third time is the charm when it comes to his shot at an Olympic medal. An Olympian in 2000 and 2004, Kemper was shut out of the medals on his first two attempts, but as he aims for his third trip to the Games in 2008, everything seems to be coming together. Kemper finished 2005 ranked No. 1 in the World, earned the 2005 Jim Thorpe All-Around Award, and was named the 2005 USOC SportsMan of the Year. His 2006 season has continued on the same path, as the 30-year-old who trains in Colorado Springs is currently ranked No. 1 in the world and recently won his sixth Elite National Title. In all, Kemper has won 12 national titles, including several as a youngster competing in the Ironkids and one as an amateur competitor with USA Triathlon.
Interest in Triathlon Continues to Rise
The stable of U.S. athletes continues to rise thanks in large part to continued interest in the sport among the American public. Membership in USA Triathlon has grown to more than 70,000, more than triple the 21,000 who were members in 2000. USAT also sanctions close to 1,800 races across the country each year. Some in the industry state that close to 450,000 Americans will compete in a triathlon this year – a number that was closer to 225,000 in 2000. The variety offered by the sport and the opportunity to develop a healthy lifestyle are two reasons for the growth. With that interest, USAT has been able to develop a strong youth, junior and U23 program that compose the future Olympians in the sport. Triathletes like Yasmine White, Steven Duplinsky, Sara McLarty, Jasmine Oeinck, and Jarrod Shoemaker are the next big names in the sport.
Sponsor Support for Triathlon Also on the Rise
With participation and interest in triathlon on the rise among the American public, U.S. businesses have taken notice. Companies like Life Time Fitness, Nautica, Accenture and Hy-Vee, among others, have gotten on board to sponsor major multi-sport events and to provide prize money never before seen in triathlon. Hy-Vee will host a major International Triathlon Union World Cup event in Des Moines, Iowa in 2007, offering a prize purse over $700,000, and Life Time Fitness has spearheaded a triathlon series in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Minneapolis, which could exceed $1 million in cash and prizes. USA Triathlon continues to bring in corporate sponsors, including national names like Garmin, Speedo and Gatorade, that help to support the elite athletes and develop the sport
on the grassroots level.
ODDS ‘N’ ENDS
2004 Olympian and 2008 hopeful Andy Potts is married to Lisa Marie Simes (Jan. 30th 2004). She was a former Cirque du Soliel artiste for the "O" show in Las Vegas as well as a former Canadian National Team Gymnast. They met at Michigan, where he was a gymnast and she was a swimmer. Potts lists his wife, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, as a hero and mentor. “She was recently diagnosed with cancer and she has shown me the true meaning of perseverance. Her spirit and outlook on life is so positive that it makes me a better person to be around her.”
Andy Potts swam at the University of Michigan and finished fourth at the 1996 Olympic Trials in the 400 IM.
Laura Bennett is married to professional triathlete Greg Bennett, who finished fourth in the triathlon at the 2004 Olympics, while competing for Australia.
Hunter Kemper is married to the former Val Sterk, who played volleyball at Michigan State and for the U.S. National Team. They went on their first date the day she was cut from the 2000 Olympic Team.
National Teams Coach Cliff English is married to 2004 Canadian Olympian Samantha McGlone. English was named the 2004 Triathlon Canada Coach of the Year.
Male triathlete Matt Reed is a native of the “triathlon-crazy” country of New Zealand but is now a U.S. citizen aiming for a spot in Beijing.
Former Olympians Barb Lindquist and Susan Williams have joined the USAT coaching squads to assist with future Olympians in the USAT U23 and Junior programs.
Female triathlete Julie Swail won a silver medal in water polo at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Though she’s no longer competing in triathlon, two-time triathlon Olympian Sheila Taormina is aiming for her fourth Olympics in her third sport. In addition to her spot on the 2000 and 2004 games, Taormina won a swimming gold in 1996 and is shooting for a spot in Beijing in the modern pentathlon. She is currently ranked No. 5 in the world.
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