ITU News Update: 4 November 2004

WORLD CUP FINALE ON COPACABANA BEACH. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both Carla Morena (Brasil) and Volodomyr Polikarpenko (Ukraine) are back to defend the Rio World Cup titles they won in 2003. World Cup series leaders Dimitri Gaag of Kazahkstan and Anja Dittmer of Germany are also in town to solidify their grip on the top of the leader board. Anabelle Luxford of Australia, and British team-mates Liz Blatchford and Michelle Dillon are other on the start list who could finish the series in the top 3, while Stewart Hayes of Britain and Kriss Gemmell of New Zealand are also in the hunt for finishing in the top 3. ITU Live coverage will begin from Rio at 9:30 local time with the start of the women's event. A 52 minute television show will be produced by ITUtv and distributed worldwide. The 52 minute Rio show will also be available on www.itutv.com shortly.

SIZZLING HOT ACTION AT CANCUN TRIATHLON WORLD CUP: Cancun, Mexico, 31 October 2004 - Post-Event Release. The ITU World Cup Series action resumed this weekend in Cancun, home of Mexico's Caribbean beaches and one of the brightest spots on the international sun-seekers' map. Anja Dittmer (GER) won the race and therefore solified the overall 2004 World Cup title and her share of the $US 50, 000 bonus purse, donated by ITU. Joanna Zeiger placed second in her first World Cup of the season while Sandra Soldan (BRA) placed third. Cedric Fleureton (FRA) won the men's race. Cedric is remembered for his dazzling sprint finish with Rasmus Henning (DEN) at the Athens Test Event in 2003. Hunter Kemper (USA) won the silver medal in the men's event while Britain's Tim Don earned the bronze medal. The experienced team in Cancun was ably led by Antonio Alvarez and Jaime Cadaval, two members of the successful ITU Team. Click here for complete post-event press release.
ITU "ROAD TO BEIJING" MULTI-SPORT CONFERENCE AND ITU CONGRESS: For all of us who have dreamed of bringing the ITU family together for a multi-sport conference these past years, Vancouver is evolving into a dream come true. We now have over 200 participants in the conference from 60+ countries. The schedule for the 2-day conference is now available here, and the line-up of Keynote Speakers and leaders participating in the discussion panels is getting better every day. As well, we have 2 magical evenings planned: Thursday, 2 December will be the "Evening of Championships" hosted by the upcoming host cities of World Championships and bid cities of World Championships in 2007 and 2008. The evening will be in the Vistas Revolving Restaurant at the top of the host hotel and will feature the food and culture of each of the host and bid cities. The second evening will be Friday, 3 December will be our Gala.

Make sure you registered with ITU Headquarters for hotel, airport transfers and accreditation. All National Federations should have received both the Registration documents for the Conference as well as the Congress information. Click here for the latest information on VANCOUVER 2004.
LEANDA CAVE HOME SAFE IN WALES: ITU President Les McDonald writes: The Cancun event was well done, thanks to Antonio Alvarez, Jaime Cadaval and their team of competant and caring officials.

Cancun with its long stretches of white sandy beaches and azure blue warm waters is a major tourist attraction. In the background the occasional Mariachi band reminds us of the history of Mexico.

In the numerous bookshops, pictures and postcards of one of my favourite, though tragic women - Freda Kahlo - a real woman! Another real woman in modern times - Leanda Cave, from Wales - that's in Britain for those of you not familiar.

Leanda suffered a bad fall in the first kilometre of the bike section in Cancun, just out of the swim, with a group of about 20 avid triathletes.

It was not her fault - she is much too clever and careful, but down she went and the result was not pretty to see. By the time I got to the hospital with flowers, and an apprehensive fear of the worst, she was gone - back to Wales as quickly as possible for medical attention - clever girl!

I spoke to Leanda on Thursday, 3 November - she is still optimistic and ready for next season's World Cup events in spite of two broken bones in one arm, another broken bone in the other, a fairly serious wound to her face and a possible broken jaw and loss of some teeth.

She is not even allowed a local delicacy of of her country, "Welsh rarebit". Fluids only.

I took a risk and suggested it woudl be good for her look at all the weight she's going to lose! She laughed.

Leanda is a wonderful role model for women in our sport - a great athlete - optimistic, and, yes, charismatic. Drop her a note at her email leandacave@hotmail.com and tell her you care.
ERRATA - ITU CONGRESS NOMINATION FORMS. ITU Headquarters would like to apologies to Marco Sbernadori, President of the Italian Triathlon Federation (photo-left) for leaving his name off of the list of nominations for the Constitution Committee. The nomination papers for Mr. Sbernadori were duly received and signed by the relevant authorities. It was an error on the part of ITU Headquarters staff that resulted in the nomination papers being circulated without Mr. Sbernadori's name. A correct version of the nominations has been posted here. Thanks to the Italian Federation for their understanding of this matter.
SWIM PHOTOS BY OLYMPIC SWIM DIRECTOR Alex Zoidisal, who was part of Gergely Markus' team as the manager of the swim course of the Athens Olympic Games, recently sent us these two photos. Alex lives most of his life underwater - when he's not organizing the best-ever swim section of the Olympic Games triathlon or spending time with his family, you can find him underwater with his clients on deep sea dives. We think that Alex's photo should become part of the great photos of our sport….what do you think? Click photo for full size image.

PUERTO RICO WOMEN'S RACE: ITU President Les McDonald writes: To All National Federations: The season is drawing to a close. In the Northern Hemisphere that is. We have one World Cup competition yet to take place- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 7 November. It will be well organized as always, by Carlos Froes in Rio.

Yet there is another race, a very special other one, a very first "other one". It is the "women's only" ITU Triathlon in Puerto Rico 14th November. Organized by Dr. Edisson Osorio, the President of the Puerto Rican Federation, and with the support of the National Olympic Committee and its President Mr. Hector Cardona and the member of the IOC Executive Board on that "Island in the Sun" Mr. Richard Carrion.

ITU has since its inception in Avignon 1989 been a proponent of equal rights for women in sport. Dr. Osorio has taken that challenge another step forward, with the support and urging of his good wife, Lillibeth, to organise this first ever "woman's only" Triathlon.A good idea - yes. Of course, it is. But what if you organised a party and no one came? As the old cliché has it.


There are not a great number of women triathletes in Puerto Rico. This is an urgent appeal to the neighbouring countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Virgin Islands, can you help get this wonderful idea off the ground and make a reality of a first ever women's triathlon, on the sceptred isle of Puerto Rico?

To those Federations close at hand - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, USA, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela - please join us? The same applies to Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa.

Find a woman, doesn't have to be an elite superstar, send her to Puerto Rico - if you need financial help, ask. ITU puts its money where its mouth is.

Joe Umphenour, Athlete's Rep on the ITU Executive Board: Joe, here's a job for you. Contact as many women as, you know, convince them to travel to Puerto Rico to compete in and celebrate this unique, ground breaking event. We can help get them there. Joe, if you can persuade some of the guys, gentlemen, to come, we could give them a job. Coach, aid station, bike mechanic, cheerleader.

Joe, you could even give out the medals, if you can produce 10 women competitors to help make a show!By the way, there is prize money, thanks to Dr. Osorio and Lillibeth.Entries for this premier gala - "Women's only" triathlon from National Federations and as athletes themselves directly to the ITU Headquarters at ituhdq@triathlon.org. Fax (1.604) 926.7260 Phone (1.604) 926.7250.

CHRISTIAN GIOVANINI PASSES: The ITU family has been saddened by the recent death of Christian Giovanini of Monaco (photo-left) after a long struggle with cancer.

Christian was one of those larger-than-life people who played a big role in the evolution of the ITU World Cup circuit. As the event producer of the Monaco World Cup in the late 90's, he was one of those infectious beings who you just wanted to spend more and more time with.

Christian loved the Monaco course, and was one of the first to understand the importance of a challenging hill to break up the field. Greg Bennett who won the overall World Cup title in 2002 broke into World Cup prominence on the hills of Monaco where he won the event in 1998. We owe a lot to Christian.

As well as the organiser of a magnificent stop on the World Cup calendar in those days, Christian also served as the Chief of Police in Monaco for many years. Prince Albert of Monaco, a great friend of Triathlon, was the one to bring Christian into the ITU Family. The sympathies of the entire ITU family go out to Christian's wife and children and the many friends he left behind. Thank you Christian - for being part of our family as well.
ETU NEWS UPDATE - 03 NOVEMBER 2004: (Official information from the European Triathlon Union)

1. Awards for Kate Allen, Austria´s Women Olympic Champion: After Kate Allen received the Eurosport "SportStar Award 2004“ in Lausanne from the representative of the International Triathlon Union, the triathlon Olympic champion has won in the Design-Center of Linz – she got more votes than judo Olympic silver medal winner Claudia Heill, Renate Götschl, who finished second overall in the alpine skiing World Cup, swimming European champion Mirna Jukic and track&field sprinter Karin Mayr-Krifka.The voting was held for the members of „Sports Media Austria“ which is the Association of Austrian Sports Journalists.

They placed Kate Allen with a significant lead on the first spot. It is by far the biggest success for Austria´s triathlon in the history of this voting. Last year, she was the first triathlete to enter the top ten of this voting on her great World Cup successes. Before that, 15th spot was the highest, achieved by Jasmin Hämmerle who was bronze medalist at the long distance World Championships back in 1999.

She didn´t become only Olympic champion, but also silver medalist at the short distance European Championships in Valencia on April 18th. Kate Allen in her first reaction: "This is unbelievable. This is just knocking my socks off!" she said proudly. The whole country comes together and celebrates. "I am an Austrian! I have worked one year for Olympia, but then everything was just perfect, "she said happily.

First statements from the Austrian Triathlon Federation: Walter Zettinig, President: „This is just sensational! A major success for our young sport, the second major one after the Olympic gold. It`s a great success for the federation as well. Of course, the major part of it belongs to the athlete, but the federation is involved as well. It´s always a sum of puzzle-pieces, which act together."Gerald Dygryn, Sports Coordinator: „This award goes mostly to Kate and the summer sports. There you can see what you can achieve, if there is a great will and ambitions behind. It is a great prosperity for Austria´s triathlon sport. I hope, that Kate will have an effect on our young athletes as a role model.“

2. Smurov and Suys rules in tropical Alanya. Dmitriy Smurov and Mieke Suys are the proud winners of the 14th Alanya International Triathlon, the traditional closing race of the European season.At the Turkish Riviera 52 elite men dove from the small beach at the Old Dock Bay into the Mediterranean Sea starting the 1500 meters swim. Already in the beginning of the swim, a group of fifteen athletes united in front. Among them were top swimmers like Vasiliev, Turbayivsky, Polyanskiy, Berk and Jaskolka, the Polish surprise at the European Championships in the beginning of the season in Valencia.But the best of the pack was eighteen years old Stansilav Krylon from Russia. In the transition zone the enthusiastic Turkish crowd saw many Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh triathletes in front. During the cycling leg the first group followed by a second in which Swiss Didier Brocard and Austrian Gerald Horvath took command. In the last of four laps along the Boulevard both groups came together and so all the favourites were together shortly before second transition together.Brocard and Horvath first start for the run with the Eastern Europeans on their heels. After two kilometres the Swiss-Austrian connection broke and Dmitry Smurov made his move and quickly the gap increased before the unexpected Turbayivskyy. In the second lap Brocard lost contact with the men in front while Ivan Vassiliev overtook the Swiss man. Krylon impressed the followers not only by the fastest swim time but also by being the fastest runner. Unfortunately, he could not follow the leading group on the bike. A new Russian star in triathlon-scene is born, seeing Stanislav Krylon back in sixth place.

In the women’s event two Olympian competitors played an important role. Lucie Zelenkova, who dropped out in Athens, was first out of the water of the 24 degrees Mediterranean. Again the Russian girls scored well in the swim-leg. Tsyganok, Dmitrieva, Shlyakhtenko and Yatsenko left the water fifteen seconds behind the Czech girl. In this following group also Mieke Suys, the other Olympian (22nd in the Games). After a short move to longer distance in Nice where the Belgium female turned in fourth, she returned to her first love the Olympic distance.Suys had no problems to bring a small group together that managed to get two minutes earlier back in transition than the following group. Besides Suys and Zelenkova the leading group consists of Russians Anna Ivanova, Olga Dmitrieva, Ukrainians Inna Tsyganok, Olesya Prystayko and Anastasiya Yatsenko. These magnificent seven worked hard and reach high speed on the windless circuit in the touristy centre of Alanya. In transition Yatsenko was first in her running shoes while Suys felt pretty comfortable in third position. Zelenkova seemed to have given too much in the first part of the race and already on the red carpet of transition area felt that this was not her day.After two kilometres the duel between Suys and Anna Ivanova started, with the Belgium former World Cup Embrunwinner (1997) slightly in front after one lap of five kilometres. Ivanova tried hard, but Mieke Suys was eager to win this race after two earlier second and third places back in 1995 and 1996. Like last year Ivanova had to accept second place some twenty seconds behind the smiling Mieke Suys, who was pleased with this great season's end.

The Alanya triathlon was also the open Turkish Championships with Okan Ulas as the new champion. The race itself is a classic one with former winners as Smith, Eggert, Ospaly and four times Dimitry Gaag. Only this time another Dimitry, also Kazakh, ruled the race.

The contact details of the Secretary General of ETU has changed after returning from Athens to Tiszaujvaros, Hungary: Gergely Markus - Address: H-3580, Tiszaujvaros, Teleki Blanka ut 6.E mail: marge@mail.datanet.hu
Tel: +36 30 688 2997 - Fax: +36 49 342 013 - www.etu-triathlon.org
RAINBOW TRIATHLON SET TO BE BIGGEST EVER IN TOBAGO. Jason Gooding writes; Beside (left) is the poster for the upcoming Rainbow Cup Triathlon 2005. It will be held on Saturday, 21st May, 2005 on the beautiful island of Tobago.

We are hoping to attract over 300 participants from all over the world. Please spread the word and if you are interested in the event and would like some more information, you can contact me at jason@rainbowtri.com .

This is the first year for the event, but it has already stimulated a great deal of excitement on both Trinidad and Tobago. We hope that this will just be the beginning of a great event that will provide good competition for the development of the sport in our country as well as a potential regional championship for PATCO or event to become our dream - a World Cup Triathlon.

I look forward to hearing from most of you as this is an event you don't want to miss. Click on our website for more details www.rainbowtri.com. Keep Training and have an awesome day.
AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME…AND IT ALMOST TOOK A LIFETIME… FOR ME AND 5 MILLION OTHER FANS! Dave McGillivray writes: One, two, three…5 million! So many of us have waited so long…for me and my brother Alan, we have been following the Red Sox since we were in Little League….that was a long time ago (40 years) I am afraid to admit. My brother Alan, especially, is a Red Sox fanatic. Ask him and he’ll spew off the batting averages of every 1967 Red Sox player and he’ll tell you what time it was when Fisk hit “the” home run. It’s borderline obscene. The Red Sox are the World Series Champions. Who da thunk it? Like many Red Sox fans, I wish my grandfather was alive to witness this…he lived near Fenway Park and loved the Sox…however, something tells me that every diehard Red Sox fan, dead or alive, is keenly aware of what just happened. Today was the victory parade. I was asked if I could provide the press truck we use in the Boston Marathon as the photo truck leading the parade. We were able to make this happen. I awoke this morning at 4AM thinking I would just stay home and watch the parade on tv…seemed like the best seat in the house. But my friend Josh Nemzer called me at 5AM and said, just get in your car and come on in. So I did. I went directly to my Boston Marathon office, changed into my running gear and headed to Fenway. You could feel the excitement along Boylston Street. But it truly didn’t seem like a rowdy or boisterous crowd, just a happy and proud group. Fenway Park…what a special place. For me, it was the place that introduced me to the Jimmy Fund 25 years ago with its sign out in right field “Help Make A Dream Come True, Support The Jimmy Fund”. I’ve run into Fenway Park twice now, after two cross-country runs. I feel at home at Fenway. When I reached Fenway Park, I beeped my friend, Ed Jacobs, who was helping with all the technical details. He was positioning the press truck and told me to jump on in which I did. I was then asked if I would stay on the truck and help manage the press and photographers on the truck. Duh, would I stay on the truck?? Wow. Now I was about to have the best seat in the house. On the lead press truck, confetti was flying. We took off at about 10:15AM, leading the parade. All the players were in Duck Boats behind us. There was one Duck Boat in front of us blaring music (“We are the Champions”, “Sweet Caroline”, etc.) and tossing confetti. The crowds were enormous…even greater than what I am used to with the Boston Marathon. I wish I brought my camera but I didn’t expect to be on the press truck leading the World Series Champions Boston Red Sox! We then crossed over the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street. I just thought back to April. The marathon is a long way to run but this Red Sox organization has come a real long way themselves just to get here and all of them were now crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon…how poetic.

The crowds were 10 deep, then 20 deep, then 30 deep. Hanging out of buildings, on ledges, on street light poles, on each other’s shoulders. Older folks, young folks and everyone in between. TV cameras were poking out of trees and windows, in cherry pickers and positioned on top of flatbed trucks. I got an incredible perspective as to just how revered these Red Sox are. No politics. No nothing. Just sheer admiration and pride coming from folks for miles and miles. A Red Sox Parade Triathlon – walking, riding and floating. As we neared the Charles River, the boats were about to go into the river (and guess what song they played then…”down by the banks of the River Charles”). Amazingly, I saw my two sons, Ryan and Max, standing on the sidelines. I jumped off the truck and ran up to them. They were psyched to have just seen all their favorite ballplayers.

However, I was more psyched to see them. Max is only 10. I was 10 when I started following the Red Sox. It took Max only 2 or 3 years of following the Sox to experience this…it took me over 40 years to finally experience this! Ryan saw Dave Mellor, the Red Sox grounds keeper in one of the boats! Ryan is in awe of Dave and has Dave’s cellular number in his phone…of course, he calls Dave on the cell phone and is speaking to Dave while he is passing by in the duck boat!! Five million folks come to see 25 Red Sox players and Ryan comes to see Dave…that’s pretty neat. But you know, in retrospect, it was worth the wait. Yes, the Yankees have won a billion of these. But, this one is real, real special. The Yankees themselves nor Yankees fans have never, nor will ever, experience anything quite like this. This was Rocky I. All you know is how to get beaten and beaten and then, finally, you pick yourself up, brush yourself off and throw a knock out punch. But this was real, not a movie. Feels good. I personally saw…5 million people today, 5 million they say or something darn close, in just 2 ½ hours…every one with a smile on their face. I am not sure that will ever, ever happen again. True, it is only a game. The true heroes are overseas right now and in the classrooms and in the operating rooms and are in our own homes. But I must admit, for the first time in my adult life, I was truly overwhelmed to be tossed in the middle of something quite so special. The Red Sox players and organization obviously made this happen, but, I honestly believe so did all of us. It was an amazing feeling…I feel a part of this…I felt like I belonged…all 5 million of us, and then some, made this happen. Like most of you, I get emails and phone calls from folks all over the country congratulating….ME!! ME!! They even make us feel like we actually had something to do with this!! Maybe we just did. Amazing. What a day. Tomorrow is Sunday. Go Pats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really spoiled now. Dave McGillivray

NEW GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS:

  • Congratulations to John and Sheila O'Kelly, Event Organiser of the Edmonton World Cup and ITU Credentials Committee, on the birth of their first grandchild to son Kian and Melanie - both doing medical specialties in Toronto. Grandma Sheila is reportedly doing well.
  • Peter Coulson, Chair of the BTA, reports that he has become a grandfather with the recent birth of his grandchild.
  • Antonio Alvarez, President of PATCO and his wife, Aurora, on the birth of their second daughter.
  • Ken and Bettina Younge, ITU Equipment Commission, on the birth of their twin girls, Annika Ruby Younge and Sophia Tori Younge.
  

Upcoming ITU Events:

  • 6 November Namibia ITU African Cup Triathlon
  • 7 November Rio ITU World Cup Triathlon
  • 12 November, Mauritius ITU African Cup Triathlon
  • 14 November San Juan Women's ITU Triathlon
  • 2, 3 December: ITU "Road to Beijing" Multi-Sport Conference, Vancouver, Canada
  • 4 December, ITU Congress, Vancouver, Canada
  • 5 December, ITU Regional Congresses, Vancouver, Canada