News Release
May 30,2003
Quadruple Times The Triathlon
Action This Weekend
4 Big ITU International Triathlons: Brno, Czech
Republic; Bellingham, USA; Subic Bay, Philippines; Zundert, Holland
This weekend is a clear
indication that the triathlon season is now shifting into high gear. With four exciting International races on
the ITU calendar for this weekend triathlon fans will have a busy weekend
keeping up with the latest developments.
The weekend kicks off in
Brno, Czech Republic on Saturday. In
the men’s event the Czech fans will have several hero’s to cheer. Filip Ospaly
is hot off a win in last weekend’s Praia da Vitoria ITU International Race and
he will face tough competition from Czech teammate Martin Knavarek – currently
ranked 18th in the world.
Also on the start line is Olympic Bronze Medallist in Sydney 2000, Jan
Rehula. Jan remains on the road to recovery following a serious bike accident
suffered shortly after the Olympics.
The Swiss Triathlon Federation has also sent a large and strong contingent
of both men and women to Brno.
Top women to watch include
home country favorites Lenka Radova, ITU ranked #22; Tereza Macel who holds
both Czech and Canadian passports and Renata Berkova ITU ranked #49. Brno is the second largest city in the
Czech Republic and the first of three ITU International events to be held
there.. The other Czech venues are
Carlsbad and Prague. This event is also
the second in the European Triathlon Union (ETU) Cup Series.
On Sunday in Bellingham; USA
the American fans will have the opportunity to watch some of the strongest
women in the world, including current ITU Ranked #1 Barb Lindquist (USA). Barb will face some stiff competition from
American teammates Sheila Taormina, ITU Ranked #5 and Joanna Zeiger, ITU ranked
#20. Some strong Canadians will also
be vying for podium positions including veteran Carol Montgomery, ITU ranked
#18 and upcoming Natasha Filliol, ITU ranked #30. In the men’s event American Hunter Kemper is the current top
ranked athlete on the start list; however, there are a couple of Simon’s on the
start list who should never be counted out.
Olympic Gold medallist Simon Whitfield
plans to cross the border from Canada to race and Great Britain’s 5 time
World Champion Simon Lessing will also be on the start line. Gilberto Gonzales (VEN) is also a race
favourite. The Bellingham event, title
sponsored by Baker’s Breakfast Cookies, is a long running event but an ITU
International Triathlon for the first time.
Another
event to watch this weekend is the Subic Bay, ITU International Triathlon and
Asian Cup Series Event. Australian,
Malcolm Lyons will have his hands full defending his title in the Men’s event
with Dimitry Gaag of Kazakhstan entered in the race. Dimitry is currently
ranked 8th in the world and was the 1999 ITU Triathlon World
Champion. Daniel Lee Chi Woo of Hong
Kong, a two time winner of the event is back on the start line (current ITU
ranking #68) as is Japan’s Junichi Yamamoto,
currently ranked #73. In the
women’s event silver medallist in last year’s Subic Bay triathlon, Nicole
Rayson of Hong is a favorite along with team mate Clair Murray; ITU ranked
#131. Ekaterina Hetnaya (KAZ) and
Yukako Inoue (JAP) are also women to watch.
The
fourth event of the weekend is the ITU International Triathlon in Zundert,
Holland. Kathleen Smet of Belgium, ITU
ranked #11 is the woman to watch in this event while Reto Hug of Switzerland is
the top ranked man in contention for the podium.
For
complete event details and post event results please visit www.triathlon.org.
For Further Information Contact:
ITU Media Manager – Lisa Ogilvie – lisa@triathlon.org
International Triathlon Union – ituhdq@triathlon.org
Phone: 1 (604) 926-7250 Fax: 1 (604) 926-7260