In this edition…..
1. ITU Women's Committee Members on the Move
2. Women's Only Races Survey
3. 13th Annual Women's Triathlon
4. Message from Isabelle Turcotte-Baird
5. Report from the JTU Women's Committee
6. Indian Triathlon Academy Female Athletes
7. Women on the Move
8. Update on the Women's Breakfast
9. Women's Race Series
10. ITU Women NF Presidents
11. ITU Women Council Members
12. Roll the Credits
13. The Last Word

ITU Women's Committee Members On the Move:
The ITU Women's Committee has been busy these past few months. Here are a few of their achievements


Valerie Gattis (USA) was recently elected President of the United States Association of Triathletes	Nelly Beccerra was voted the Woman Triathlete of the Year in Mexico!	Monika Birk, Germany, who makes films in her spare time, is currently on the way to Finland, where she will be producing a story about cross country skiing in the polar circle – visiting an icehotel in the process!	Pamela Fralick, Canada, Chair of the ITU Woman’s Committee, was recently presented with the Lisa Hammon award by the Ontario Association of Triathletes, given to the member who is “a well-rounded athlete and who contributes not just to the sport but to the entire ‘world”.

WOMEN ONLY RACES!!
The ITU Women’s Committee wishes to develop an inventory of all women-only races around the world, and make it available through the ITU website. We wish to show our support for these races, which often give women their first opportunity to “tri” our great sport. If you organize a women’s-only race, or if you know of a “Women-Only” race, then please let us know. Just provide the following information to ITU Women’s Committee member Monika Birk, and we’ll take it from there. Thank you very much in advance for your active support! Please send the following information to: Monika Birk, at: Moni@3dims.de

Event:
Location:
Distance:
Date:
Is it an annual event?
Is it race for beginners as well?
Additional Details:
Contact:
Name:
Address:
Phone/Fax :
E-mail:

13th ANNUAL WOMEN'S
Robyn Scott writes: We are one month away from our 13th Annual Women's Triathlon here in Perth, Western Australia.

We are quite isolated from the rest of Australia over here but our race is the largest women's triathlon in Australia peaking in 2001 with 650 competitors (Triathlon Western Australia has a total of 1100 members) 300 plus of these women had never done a triathlon before. Last year our event was scheduled on a long weekend and we had 450 participants, including 200 plus first timers.

As a lead up to the event we conduct an 8 week training course which includes one swim, one run and one cycle session each week. It also includes a nutrition seminar and cycle maintenance. This year we cut off applications at 140, two days early and had 40 plus on a waiting list. All our coaches are also women.

As a result of the popularity of the event and courses, two other local women triathletes have started to run similar groups and both have 60 plus participants at the moment. There are so many women around looking for a non-threatening environment to train and seeking a new challenge.

We have many “All Women’s” training groups starting to pop up and a couple of the local clubs are even conducting “Women-Only” training sessions.

Look forward to hearing what is happening elsewhere, about Women in Triathlon. http://www.womenstriathlon.com.au

ISABELLE TURCOTTE-BAIRD, CHAIR OF THE ITU ATHLETES COMMITTEE

Isabelle Turcotte-Baird, Chair of the ITU Athletes Committee

Isabelle Turcotte-Baird write: For this special edition of the ITU Update, I would like to thank ITU for being supportive in women's related issues. Many other International Federations could learn from us. We have equal prize money, a Women's Committee and we are above the minimal criteria from the IOC in regards to women's representation on committees and management positions. Bravo!

However, it is sad to see that some National Federations are simply not following the IOC and ITU recommendations. As the ITU Athletes' Committee chair, I urge women athletes to speak up and make sure they have the same opportunities to compete and to be involved as the men do in their respective country. Please write us, we can help you. The Athletes' Committee plans to work along with the Women's Committee on some of these issues. Have courage, we can do it.

REPORT FROM THE JTU (JAPAN TRIATHLON UNION) WOMEN'S COMMITTEE
The JTU Women's Committee was established in 1994, together with the Japan Triathlon Union. It is chaired by Ms. Noriko Yamakura and has 10 committee members and 8 regional representatives. The Committee meetings are held bi-monthly, and a general meeting is held every year in March. The agenda of the most recent annual meeting included a review of the committee's activities, discussions about issues and problems raised by women members, and updates ont the gender issue. One of the major issues for the committee to discuss has been the way in which we can increase the number of participating women athletes at our events.

Here we would like to mention a happening from the Women's Only Triathlon event in Amami Island (pictured left), southern Japan. This event of 1990 has since been popular among athletes, having taken place amid fine semi-tropical weather and the beautiful coral sea. Local people's warm cheers and a happy prize-awarding party with local music and dances were part of the event attractions.

The originality of the Amami event lies in the fact that a baby-sitting service was provided, while mother athletes competed in the race and their husbands were attending. Children were taken care of by volunteers during the race and were later brought to the finish gate to welcome their mothers coming in. The baby-sitting service will again be available at the upcoming 14th annual Amami event in October this year, to encourage more mothers to join the race.

Brief report on specific member names and backgrounds; Ms. Noriko Yamakura, Chairwoman of the Women's Committee is a well-known triathlete, three times long distance champion at the Miyakojima Island, Okinawa. She was also the winner of the Amami event. She is one of the JTU Executive Board members, together with Ms. Keiko Wada who is the head of the Committee for the Environment. Keiko is the Executive Director of the Japanese Olympic Academy. Ms. Kiriyo Suzuki, vice chairwoman of the JTU Technical Committee is also noted due to her active role as race director for the Makuhari World Cup last year and for many other races. Ms. Noriko Tsubokura, specialized in computer science, is an active member of women's technical committee and worked as a race official in Cancun World Championships last year.

At our race official activities JTU Technical Committee, in cooperation with the Women's Committee, is encouraging women to work as race officials. At present, there are more than 200 certified women officials throughout Japan.

It has to be noted that the Amami event is characterized by a thriving number of women officials and is very favorably accepted by them.

Last but not least, we are pleased to inform you that the Japanese women's activities during triathlon events have been highly evaluated and increasingly included in the IOC agenda and more initiatives are to be taken. This is also frequently emphasized by Mr. Chiharu Igaya, JTU president and IOC member (pictured left).

We are most happy to work with you, the ITU Women's Committee, for an even greater number of future achievements.

INDIAN TRIATHLON ACADEMY WOMEN TRIATHLETES
Brett Mace, Indian Triathlon Academy and National Coach writes: In January 2003, the Indian Triathlon Academy, a programme instigated by the Indian Triathlon Federation with the aim of qualifying an Indian Triathlete at the Beijing Olympics, took a huge step forward with the establishment of an overseas training centre in Shoalhaven Heads, Australia. Shoalhaven Heads (pictured left) is part of the magnificent South Coast of New South Wales, 2 hours south of Sydney and 2 ½ hours from Canberra.

Sitting at the mouth of the beautiful Shoalhaven River and the southern end of Seven Mile Beach the area is perfect for triathlon training with quiet country roads some with flat and easy rides to more hilly rides with a number of climbs between 5 & 7kms. In addition to this, there are the lovely river swims and quiet streets around the river where the athletes can develop their swim, bike and run skills.

This year 5 athletes were selected to travel to Australia, 3 men triathletes, 1 man marathon runner and 1 woman junior triathlete. The Academy has 2 men and 1 woman sub junior triathletes (14/15 years of age) who have remained behind in Chennai to complete their 10th Standard State Board School Examinations.

One of these athletes and our youngest resident at the Academy is a young girl named Kanthamani (pronounced Carn-Tum-Any). Kanthamani is a young 14 year old girl from a farming family some 400kms from Chennai who was identified running a Half Marathon in Chennai (at 12 years of age) finishing an incredible 7th!!!! After some time tracking her down following the event, Kanthamani was invited to join the Academy and though she could not swim 50 metres at the time, she has made tremendous progress during the past year and is fortunate to be young enough with time on her side to develop. We look forward to the next few years as she works hard at her studies and developing her swimming cycling and running skills sufficiently to become an International triathlete.

During her time at the Indian Triathlon Academy, all of Kantahamani's costs, including travel, education, full board and all clothing and equipment will be met by the Indian Triathlon Federation as part of the programme to ensure that India's Triathletes have every opportunity to excel in the sport of triathlon. The Federation believes it is extremely important for athletes to continue with their education and have every opportunity to make a life for themselves after their sporting career. The Academy is also looking to identify more young girls like Kanthamani and offer them the same opportunity as Kanthamani to become International triathletes.

The other young woman in the Academy programme and currently with the team in Australia is Kavya Murthy. An 18 year old Bachelor of Commerce student from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College in Bangalore, Kavya is now experiencing her first time abroad outside of India. Despite her being one of the youngest in the team, she has carried the responsibility of Team Captain that has required her to address a number of public functions which she has handled with great distinction and has thoroughly impressed all who have met her.

Kavya is fortunate enough to have the full support of her family as she attempts to qualify for the Olympics, something not always so easy for young Indian women. Upon confirmation of her selection for the Australian trip, we sat down with her family (father, mother and sister) and discussed a number of issues as nobody in their family has ever traveled abroad and also explained the commitment required to qualify for the Olympics. Also discussed were the changes they would likely see from her time living in a completely different country and her first real experience with western culture. We also spoke about the changes she would undergo as she becomes more exposed to a number of different cultures with her time traveling with the Academy and the difference that they may notice in her.

Below are a couple of paragraphs that I have asked Kavya to write about her experience in Australia and her first time out of India. These paragraphs are exactly as written by Kavya.

Life in Australia is very, very different compared to India. Australia is enjoyable, clean, not risky, comfortable with very few people around and well mannered and disciplined and the list goes on.

Experience and difference between Australia and India for example are: The cars in Australia stand 5 metres apart from other cars at traffic signals. In India you would have seen at least 5 motorbikes in the 5 metres distance as there are a lot more two wheelers than 4 wheelers in India.

Barbeques near the river is a picnic place in Australia. If we had the same in India you would have seen around 10 families with huts fighting for one barbeque and planning to spend the rest of their life there.

The people here enjoy their lives by going fishing, swimming and whatever they like. In India there is less recreation. The people who go fishing are only fishermen, swimming is only for sports swimmers.

We see a great surprising change here. That it is not yet dark till 8pm in the night. In India the street lights will go on at 6pm
Here we see people saying hello while we are practicing all the time. In India you will see the people giving a big gaze. There are a lot more people keeping themselves fit compared to India.

The older people in Australia are a lot more active like playing bowls and walking than in India as the older people there just stay in the house.

There are so many women in Australia who are participating in lots of sports and exercising compared to India, where you don't see many women participating in sports. Also mothers and older women still participate in sports. Most women and men will only participate in sports till they are 24 or 25 years old.

I was shocked when our coach told us that we were going to ride our bikes up the hills to Kangaroo Valley (photo right) as I had never ridden up hills that steep before. I could never think I would be able to do it, but I did it and was very happy. We are now doing more and more but it is still tough but it will make me better.

The water in the river, the sea and the pool is much cleaner and nicer to swim in. There were dolphins near us in the shore which was very exciting to see.

There is a lot more freedom to dress and act the way you want in Australia where in India we are always bothered about the people, and what they may think. We almost live our lives to not make ourselves happy but to make the other people satisfied.

It is very different seeing people getting married next to the river and there are very few people at marriages where in India you spend a lot of money inviting hundreds and more to weddings. There are very less people building a house in Australia and it is all machines, where in India there are lots of people with very little machinery.

There are a lot of people playing sport and there are many sports fields which have grass instead of clay. There are people talking more on sport and less on politics in the papers.

The people in Australia get pensions for not working or being sick. But in India we find it surprising to hear such things as there are no such things as that.

These are a few personal experiences I feel about Australia and India. This is my first time abroad and that my first trip was to a beautiful country like Australia. There are a few things I miss a lot especially the family who I am very close to and we try to keep in touch through email and phone once a while. I can now understand how big the commitment is I have made when I am so far away from my family and everything I know. It has been and will continue to be a very big learning experience for me and hope that I am able to achieve my dreams and also represent my family and my country with great pride and honour. I would like to thank my family supporting and believing in me. Without them I would not be experiencing this wonderful opportunity.”

As Kavya is the first young Indian woman Triathlete to experience living and training outside India, we hope from her experience and her qualities as a natural leader, that in the future Kavya will play a valuable and supportive role in assisting and guiding other young girls in the Academy to adjusting to life and training as International triathletes for India.

Kavya and Kanthamani have also had the benefit of a programme recently instigated at the Academy called ‘Tri Sisters’. This program provides valuable support and role models for our women triathletes who have no other women triathletes that they can call upon to talk about their experiences in their development as an International women Triathlete or just about talk about issues relating to women in the sport of triathlon and any other particular issues facing women’s sport in general.

Kavya’s ‘Tri Sister’ is Belinda Granger, Australia’s leading Long Course Triathlete and winner of 2 Ironman races. Kanthamani's is Melissa Ashton, a highly ranked ITU triathlete and one of Australia’s leading women triathletes. Both of these girls were selected as ‘Tri Sisters’ because of their positive attitude to the sport and both have fought very hard throughout their careers to achieve what they have in the sport of triathlon and are ideal role models for our young developing women triathletes.

It is hoped that some years down the track that our Indian women will emulate the achievements of their ‘tri sisters’ and go on to have successful and rewarding careers as International Women Triathletes.

WOMEN ON THE MOVE! Sister Madonna Buder….was recently interviewed by Dr. Anthony Robin, an Information-commercial specialist, also actor who starred in Shallow Hal. His main thrust is to engage four companies, including Reebok, to help sponsor programmes for Seniors by illustrating some Seniors who are breaking the barriers. Who better as a role model for seniors than our inimitable Ironwoman, Sister Madonna- a Christian nun?! Cheryl Battaerd…..former Co-Chair of the ITU Women's Committee, and long-time supporter of its activities, recently finished a review for the Australian government of soccer in the country, and has now started a completely new adventure in broadcasting! She has her own sports programme on ABC radio (The Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Her passion for sport and enjoyment in hearing about other's sporting passions and achievements is helping her to overcome any residual fears about speaking publicly. She says, "One of the best things about being on the other side of the microphone now is that I can make sure that women's achievements in sport get recognition and are broadcast."
UPDATE ON THE ITU WOMEN'S COMMITTEE ANNUAL BREAKFAST! Kathy Sheldrake, ITU Women's Committee writes: The Women's Breakfast for Queenstown is progressing well. The venue is booked and the Prime Minister has been invited to attend as a guest speaker! We are extremely fortunate to have a woman Prime Minister in New Zealand, Helen Clark, who is very active in outdoor activities. She climbs mountains both here and overseas and also treks the New Zealand walkways, especially any new ones that open. We are sure she will attend if she is in the country. Watch for more exciting details as we get closer to the date! And remember - everyone is invited to attend, men and women alike, as we celebrate women's advances in our sport! WOMEN'S RACE SERIES! New Zealand: There is a nationwide series of Women's only triathlons taking place right now. They are sponsored by a New Zealand breakfast cereal company called Kellogs. The numbers have been very high in some areas. The first one had over 300 entrants from 12 to 87 years of age with 96% being first timers. The distances are 300m swim/10km ride/ 3km run/walk. This is the first season for this event and they are in 11 different locations. Canada: Efforts are underway in Canada to link over a dozen "women only" races across the country into a nationally profiled race series. It is hoped that the positioning of these events will encourage more women to take part.
ITU CELEBRATES OUR NF PRESIDENTS ITU is proud of the large number of women who work tirelessly on behalf of their National Federations as NF Presidents. Some of who are listed below: Celine Macken (Cayman Islands) Sylvia Gonzalez (Costa Rica) Nola Shyiak (Guam) Ingrid Eadie (Hong Kong) Irene Charuruks (Malaysia) Ria Damgren (Sweden) Anne-Marie Gshwend (Switzerland) Val Gattis (USA) Eileene Parsons (British Virgin Isle) Dragana Kamenica (Yugoslavia).	Ria Damgren, President Swedish Triathlon Federation	Irene Charuruks, President Malaysian Triathlon Federation
	Valerie Gattis, President USA Triathlon Federation	Anne-Marie Gschwend, President Swiss Triathlon Federation
ITU CELEBRATES OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ITU is fortunate to have such wonderful women to work with on our ITU Committees and Commissions. Thank you to all of our women who hold positions within ITU. Some of the women council members are pictured to the right. These include: Marisol Casada (Spain) ITU Executive Board Ria Damgren (Sweden) ITU Executive Board Isabelle Turcotte-Baird (Canada) Athlete's Representative to the ITU Executive Board Trudi Barnes (South Africa) ITU Athletes Committee Machiko Nakanishi (Japan) ITU Athlete's Committee Kathleen Smet (Belgium) ITU Athlete's Committee Jackie Gallagher (Australia) ITU Athlete's Committee Marianne Vlasveld (Holland) ITU Winter Triathlon Athlete Representative Loreen Barnett (Canada) ITU Technical Committee, Chair, Dr. Susanne Mortier (Germany) ITU Medical Committee, Dr. Sandra Soldan (Brazil) ITU Medical Committee Mina Guli (Australia) ITU Constitution Committee Sheila O'Kelly (Canada) ITU Credentials Committee Chair, Pamela Fralick (Canada) ITU Women's Committee Chair Nelly Becerra (Mexico) ITU Women's Committee Monika Birk (Germany), ITU Women's Committee Leslie Beckerman (Canada), Chair, ITU Solidarity Commission Valerie Gattis (USA) ITU Women's Committee Surekha Ramachandran (India) ITU Women's Committee Liesbeth Stoltz (South Africa), ITU Women's Committee Kathy Sheldrake (New Zealand) ITU Women's Committee Dr. Petra Frey (Switzerland) Doping Commission Dr. Dianna Robinson (Australia) Doping Commission Lorene Hatelt (Canada) Athlete's with a Disability Commission, Chair Karen Buxton (USA) ITU Audit Committee Libby Burrell (USA) Coaching Commission.	Marisol Casado (Spain), ITU Executive Board	Machiko Nakanishi (Japan), ITU Athletes Committee	Kathleen Smet (Belgium), ITU Athletes Committee