The Tour de France is almost upon us. The OLN broadcast schedule is here:
http://www.tsn.ca/oln/tour_de_france/feature.asp?fid=10749
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
RIP George Carlin
The legendary comedian George Carlin (71) died yesterday in California due to heart failure.
Check out his stuff (I'm sure You tube has clips) you will not be disappointed.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Post ATR Surgery Pics
The first cast came off yesterday and I got to see the 6 incisions the surgeon made. Check out all the pics below along with my new red cast. Enjoy!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Simon says..
Here is a nice response from Simon Whitfield about the whole team selection ordeal. He is a great guy and not the villan that some might be making him out to be. Go get em' Simon, Paul and Colin!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/WbBeijing
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/WbBeijing
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Groves, Tremblay & Murray
I had a psychic vision last night and it came through with the members of Canada's Olympic Women's Triathlon Team (to be officially announced tomorrow morning).
There are:
Lauren Groves
Kathy Tremblay
Carolyn Murray.
Kirsten Sweetland will be the alternate.
I'm sure if Kirsten didn't have a stress fracture in her foot (which she ran on during the World Championships last weekend) she would have been on that team and brought home a medal for Canada. She still has lots of years ahead of her though.
If this turns out to be true, then feel free to contact me to look into your future.
RH
There are:
Lauren Groves
Kathy Tremblay
Carolyn Murray.
Kirsten Sweetland will be the alternate.
I'm sure if Kirsten didn't have a stress fracture in her foot (which she ran on during the World Championships last weekend) she would have been on that team and brought home a medal for Canada. She still has lots of years ahead of her though.
If this turns out to be true, then feel free to contact me to look into your future.
RH
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Finally!!!!
Long overdue but finally the Canadian Government stepped up today. Now only if they would do something about our taxes and gas prices.
Canada apologizes
BRODIE FENLON
Globe and Mail Update and Canadian Press
June 11, 2008 at 4:33 PM EDT
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made an historic apology on behalf of the Canadian government for native residential schools and its decades-long policy of forced assimilation.
“Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country,” Mr. Harper said.
“The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian residential schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language.”
The apology was quickly embraced by Phil Fontaine, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who addressed MPs from the floor of the House of Commons, as dozens of residential school survivors watched on from the public gallery.
“This day testifies to nothing less than the achievement of the impossible," said Mr. Fontaine, who wore traditional headgear.
“Never again will this House consider us the Indian problem just for being who we are. We heard the government of Canada take full responsibility for this dreadful chapter in our shared history...
“What happened today signifies a new dawn in the relationship between us and the rest of Canada,” he said.
Mr. Harper began the ceremony by walking into the House of Commons with Mr. Fontaine and other aboriginal leaders, including Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mike Cachagee, president of the National Residential School Survivors' Society, Beverly Jacobs of the Native Women's Association of Canada, and Métis National Council President Clément Chartier.
They were accompanied by a small group of aged residential school survivors, including 104-year-old Marguerite Wabano, who attended a residential school run by Roman Catholic grey nuns in Fort Albany, Ont., for two years when she was seven and eight years old.
As the native leaders and survivors sat in a circle, Mr. Harper began the apology.
“On behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so vital, central to our life as a country, to apologize to aboriginal peoples for the role the government of Canada played in the Indian residential schools system.”
Mr. Harper continued: “To the approximately 80,000 living former students, and all family members and communities, the government of Canada now recognizes that it was wrong to forcibly remove children from their homes and we apologize for having done this.
“We now recognize that it was wrong to separate children from rich and vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a void in many lives and communities, and we apologize from having done this."
“We now recognize that, in separating children from their families, we undermined the ability of many to adequately parent their own children and sowed the seeds for generations to follow, and we apologize for having done this," the Prime Minister said.
“We now recognize that, far too often, these institutions gave rise to abuse or neglect and were inadequately controlled, and we apologize for failing to protect you.
“Not only did you suffer these abuses as children, but as you became parents, you were powerless to protect your own children from suffering the same experience, and for this we are sorry.”
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion also apologized on behalf of the Liberal Party, which he noted had governed the country for 70 years of the last century.
“For too long the Canadian government chose to ignore the consequences of this tragedy,” Mr. Dion said. “I am sorry Canada tried to erase your identity and culture.”
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP Leader Jack Layton added their voices to the apology, each demanding that the government restore the nation-to-nation relationship between Ottawa and First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
“This Parliament chose to treat First Nations, Métis and Inuit people as not equally human," Mr. Layton said. “It set out to ‘kill the Indian in the child.' That choice was wrong – horribly wrong.”
The Harper government indicated at the outset of the apology that it had changed its mind about allowing aboriginal leaders to respond to the apology from the House of Commons floor.
On Tuesday, Mr. Harper said he would not alter Parliamentary tradition and accused the opposition of detracting from the importance of the event by raising the issue during Question Period.
But Government House Leader Peter Van Loan asked opposition MPs for consent Wednesday to allow the leaders who accompanied Mr. Harper into the House to respond to the apology.
The historic day in Ottawa began with sunrise prayers on the island below Parliament Hill, where about 100 natives burned tobacco to honour the spirits of those who have died. There were similar gatherings across the country.
Dozens of people gathered at the site of a former residential school near the small Nova Scotia community of Shubenacadie, north of Halifax, for a “letting-go ceremony.”
In Saskatchewan, aboriginals gathered in Fort Qu'Appelle to support each other as they listened to Mr. Harper's apology.
Residential schools were mandatory for aboriginal children who were forced to learn English and adopt Christianity as part of government policy. About 150,000 students attended 130 church-run schools across Canada for much of the last century.
While many students say they received a good education, Ottawa acknowledged in 1998 that physical and sexual abuse was rampant.
The apology is part of a compensation and healing package expected to top $4-billion.
Daily parliamentary business has been called off for the apology, which will be followed by opposition response. The official apology inside the House of Commons will be followed outside the chamber with ceremonial signing, music and a chance for former students to be heard.
Canada apologizes
BRODIE FENLON
Globe and Mail Update and Canadian Press
June 11, 2008 at 4:33 PM EDT
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made an historic apology on behalf of the Canadian government for native residential schools and its decades-long policy of forced assimilation.
“Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country,” Mr. Harper said.
“The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian residential schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language.”
The apology was quickly embraced by Phil Fontaine, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who addressed MPs from the floor of the House of Commons, as dozens of residential school survivors watched on from the public gallery.
“This day testifies to nothing less than the achievement of the impossible," said Mr. Fontaine, who wore traditional headgear.
“Never again will this House consider us the Indian problem just for being who we are. We heard the government of Canada take full responsibility for this dreadful chapter in our shared history...
“What happened today signifies a new dawn in the relationship between us and the rest of Canada,” he said.
Mr. Harper began the ceremony by walking into the House of Commons with Mr. Fontaine and other aboriginal leaders, including Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mike Cachagee, president of the National Residential School Survivors' Society, Beverly Jacobs of the Native Women's Association of Canada, and Métis National Council President Clément Chartier.
They were accompanied by a small group of aged residential school survivors, including 104-year-old Marguerite Wabano, who attended a residential school run by Roman Catholic grey nuns in Fort Albany, Ont., for two years when she was seven and eight years old.
As the native leaders and survivors sat in a circle, Mr. Harper began the apology.
“On behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so vital, central to our life as a country, to apologize to aboriginal peoples for the role the government of Canada played in the Indian residential schools system.”
Mr. Harper continued: “To the approximately 80,000 living former students, and all family members and communities, the government of Canada now recognizes that it was wrong to forcibly remove children from their homes and we apologize for having done this.
“We now recognize that it was wrong to separate children from rich and vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a void in many lives and communities, and we apologize from having done this."
“We now recognize that, in separating children from their families, we undermined the ability of many to adequately parent their own children and sowed the seeds for generations to follow, and we apologize for having done this," the Prime Minister said.
“We now recognize that, far too often, these institutions gave rise to abuse or neglect and were inadequately controlled, and we apologize for failing to protect you.
“Not only did you suffer these abuses as children, but as you became parents, you were powerless to protect your own children from suffering the same experience, and for this we are sorry.”
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion also apologized on behalf of the Liberal Party, which he noted had governed the country for 70 years of the last century.
“For too long the Canadian government chose to ignore the consequences of this tragedy,” Mr. Dion said. “I am sorry Canada tried to erase your identity and culture.”
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP Leader Jack Layton added their voices to the apology, each demanding that the government restore the nation-to-nation relationship between Ottawa and First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
“This Parliament chose to treat First Nations, Métis and Inuit people as not equally human," Mr. Layton said. “It set out to ‘kill the Indian in the child.' That choice was wrong – horribly wrong.”
The Harper government indicated at the outset of the apology that it had changed its mind about allowing aboriginal leaders to respond to the apology from the House of Commons floor.
On Tuesday, Mr. Harper said he would not alter Parliamentary tradition and accused the opposition of detracting from the importance of the event by raising the issue during Question Period.
But Government House Leader Peter Van Loan asked opposition MPs for consent Wednesday to allow the leaders who accompanied Mr. Harper into the House to respond to the apology.
The historic day in Ottawa began with sunrise prayers on the island below Parliament Hill, where about 100 natives burned tobacco to honour the spirits of those who have died. There were similar gatherings across the country.
Dozens of people gathered at the site of a former residential school near the small Nova Scotia community of Shubenacadie, north of Halifax, for a “letting-go ceremony.”
In Saskatchewan, aboriginals gathered in Fort Qu'Appelle to support each other as they listened to Mr. Harper's apology.
Residential schools were mandatory for aboriginal children who were forced to learn English and adopt Christianity as part of government policy. About 150,000 students attended 130 church-run schools across Canada for much of the last century.
While many students say they received a good education, Ottawa acknowledged in 1998 that physical and sexual abuse was rampant.
The apology is part of a compensation and healing package expected to top $4-billion.
Daily parliamentary business has been called off for the apology, which will be followed by opposition response. The official apology inside the House of Commons will be followed outside the chamber with ceremonial signing, music and a chance for former students to be heard.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Controversy?: Canadian Men's Olympic Triathlon Team
Here is an interesting article about the recent Canadian Olympic Triathlon Team selections. There seems to be some infighting but hopefully everyone steps up and achieves the common goal of winning in Beijing.
I think that both Simon and Paul can bring home medals at Beijing. Paul should not take a back seat role. He can go for a top 3 and still "help out" Simon. In fact, they can help each other out since they both need to be in that front pack of the swim, bike, and then its every man for themselves come that final run.
Tichelaar not tickled by role
Edmonton athlete asked by Triathlon Canada to focus efforts on getting Simon Whitfield on podium in Beijing
Gary Kingston
Vancouver Sun; Canwest News Service
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
VANCOUVER - There were bound to be happy athletes and some unhappy ones when Triathlon Canada named its men's team for the Beijing Olympics.
Paul Tichelaar of Edmonton found himself in both camps.
The contentious selection process was left to a five-person high-performance committee late Sunday after neither Tichelaar, nor Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., were able to secure an automatic berth behind the already-qualified Simon Whitfield with a top-eight finish at the ITU world championship in Vancouver earlier in the day.
The fast-improving Tichelaar came closest with a stirring ninth-place finish. But his relief at being named to the squad was tempered with some bitterness when he was informed that both he and third member Colin Jenkins of Hamilton, Ont., would be expected to focus their efforts on helping Whitfield -- the 2000 Olympic champion -- make the medal podium.
Tichelaar's role wasn't articulated during a media conference call Monday morning with the athletes and Triathlon Canada executives. But Tichelaar confirmed in a later interview that the federation wants him to work on team tactics.
"What kind of reasonable decision is that?" said the blunt Tichelaar, who with three top-eights on the World Cup circuit this season and his strong effort Sunday could well be a medal contender himself.
"There was a little unbelief, well maybe not unbelief because I was kind of expecting something like this from this group of people," he added.
"It took the wind out of my sails. Here was something I should have been celebrating and I'm a little ambivalent now. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole situation," added Tichelaar, who said he wanted to take a couple of days to ponder his position "before I really open my mouth."
He certainly isn't shy about doing that. Last week, he directed pointed comments towards Triathlon Canada for the way the qualifying standard was toughened and at Whitfield for being a "big dog" who needs to "get his bone."
Whitfield said Tichelaar was being disrespectful and petty. On the conference call, they tried to make nice and Tichelaar said he believes they can "sort out" any disagreements. But he's clearly not fully onboard.
Many believe the qualifying standard was toughened to ensure team selection would be turned over to the high-performance committee and result in Jenkins, who was being openly campaigned for by Whitfield, being added at the expense of higher-ranked teammates Jones and Brent McMahon of Victoria.
National team head coach Joel Filliol, who was on the high-performance committee, said the standard represented what it would take to win an (Olympic medal) and Tichelaar didn't achieve that.
On the conference call, both Filliol and Whitfield reiterated that with team tactics coming more and more into play -- and national team funding based in part on winning medals -- it's essential to use a team concept in Beijing.
"I can't say enough about the tremendous effort Triathlon Canada put into this," said Whitfield. "It's cutting edge. I bumped into one of the Australian coaches (Monday morning) and he said 'you guys are smart' and nodded. It's a tribute to the fact we've thought this through.
"We're putting together a team that's about medal contention. The pressure's on me. We set this team up, now I have to go and perform."
The idea is that Tichelaar and, in particular, Jenkins -- who is an excellent swimmer and strong on the bike -- can help Whitfield if he comes out behind the lead pack in the swim. Or, they could cover breakaways by strong cyclists during the 40-kilometre bike leg.
McMahon, a 2004 Olympian who was 17th on Sunday, said he was the victim of politics and would have had to do something "miraculous" to change what he believed were the already made-up minds of the high-performance committee.
He also said he believes it would be better to have three athletes strong in all disciplines working together at Beijing, and he questioned whether Jenkins can do much to affect things.
"At the end of the day, Simon has to be ready to win on his own. If he's not in a position to win, it doesn't matter what Colin or Paul do."
Meanwhile, a decision on the selection of the women's team for Beijing has been delayed, likely to give the high-performance committee time to collect more information on the left heel injury suffered a week ago by Victoria teenager Kirsten Sweetland.
Vancouver's Lauren Groves has pre-qualified for Beijing. Those in the running for the final two spots are Sweetland, Edmonton's Carolyn Murray and Montreal's Kathy Tremblay.
Also this one:
Whitfield to get help in triathlon medal bid
JAMES CHRISTIE
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
The pressure of winning a triathlon medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics sits on the shoulders of Simon Whitfield, and the gold medalist at the 2000 Games appreciates that's where it belongs after Triathlon Canada put a “helper” in the Olympic field to boost him toward the podium.
“This is about winning medals,” Whitfield said in a teleconference yesterday in which his ticket to Beijing was confirmed, along with those of Paul Tichelaar of Edmonton and Colin Jenkins of Hamilton.
Jenkins's specific role is not to compete for a medal for Canada, but to sacrifice himself as a domestique in a team-racing strategy, setting up Whitfield, 33, for a run at the medals.
The nomination of Jenkins for the team over Brent McMahon of Victoria – whose 17th place finish in the world championships got Canada's men a third spot in Beijing – has invited criticism.
However, McMahon said last night he will not appeal Triathlon Canada's picks.
“They've been pushing this way of racing for the past year and we knew going in you'd have to be in the top eight at the worlds to be automatically selected,” he said of Jenkins's selection. “I just hope Paul gets to run his own race, because he's shown he's a contender.”
Tichelaar had said last week that Triathlon Canada was plainly building around Whitfield's potential as “the big dog” in the pack. “And he's getting his bone.”
Yesterday, in the wake of a ninth-place finish at the worlds, Tichelaar said he was happy the selection ordeal was over and believed the three teammates would train together harmoniously. “We're balancing some of the top athletes in the sport with some fair-sized egos. We held it pretty much together.”
Whitfield said taking heat is an inevitable consequence of realism. With a level of confidence bordering on audacity, he reckoned he's Canada's main medal threat and is glad that Triathlon Canada gave one of the three spots to an athlete who accepts the role of setup man in the swimming and cycling portions of the triathlon.
“I can't say enough about the cutting edge Triathlon Canada is trying to put in,” Whitfield said. “I just passed one of the Australian coaches and he said he wished they were as smart as we are.
“At the end of the day, the pressure falls on my shoulders. … The Canadian sports system is funded based on winning medals, not on just participating. When Triathlon Canada tries to put together a team with that goal, we're bound to take a little criticism. But they're walking the walk after having talked the talk.”
Jenkins, who finished 55th in the world championships, is a strong swimmer and cyclist and knows his role is to put Whitfield in a position to challenge Spain's world champion, Javier Gomez, who has been on the podium the past 16 times he has raced.
“When the criteria came out, I talked to [Olympic coach] Joel Filliol, and we decided my best chance to make the team would be to show myself as a team racer, and over the last 12 months I've tried to perfect that role,” Jenkins said. “I have no pipe dream I would be on top of the podium in Beijing. It isn't about me. … I'm going to Beijing to try and help Simon win. That's my role and I've been fine with that for the past 12 to 18 months.”
Whitfield said he felt for McMahon, the Pan American Games silver medalist who had been his teammate in Athens. “He had an extraordinary [world championship] and he should be proud of that. … But with all respect, he had four chances to make the team and this was his fourth chance.”
Jenkins won the pot in a poker game he didn't relish. In order to be selected, he said, he knew he had to rely on McMahon securing Canada a third spot for Beijing.
“It's a hard position to be in,” he said. “I knew people's emotions would get high and some would be upset.”
He said he will work hard on swimming and biking at the expense of his running.
At the next World Cup, in Des Moines, Iowa, he and Whitfield will have one more chance to practise their teamwork, with Jenkins jockeying Whitfield to the front of the swim pack, then leading him in cycling so that he saves energy by drafting.
“The chances of winning change by small percentages,” Whitfield said. “We have to put every advantage forward we can.”
He said the French, Australians, Swiss and possibly the Russians will race using team strategies in Beijing as well.
I think that both Simon and Paul can bring home medals at Beijing. Paul should not take a back seat role. He can go for a top 3 and still "help out" Simon. In fact, they can help each other out since they both need to be in that front pack of the swim, bike, and then its every man for themselves come that final run.
Tichelaar not tickled by role
Edmonton athlete asked by Triathlon Canada to focus efforts on getting Simon Whitfield on podium in Beijing
Gary Kingston
Vancouver Sun; Canwest News Service
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
VANCOUVER - There were bound to be happy athletes and some unhappy ones when Triathlon Canada named its men's team for the Beijing Olympics.
Paul Tichelaar of Edmonton found himself in both camps.
The contentious selection process was left to a five-person high-performance committee late Sunday after neither Tichelaar, nor Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., were able to secure an automatic berth behind the already-qualified Simon Whitfield with a top-eight finish at the ITU world championship in Vancouver earlier in the day.
The fast-improving Tichelaar came closest with a stirring ninth-place finish. But his relief at being named to the squad was tempered with some bitterness when he was informed that both he and third member Colin Jenkins of Hamilton, Ont., would be expected to focus their efforts on helping Whitfield -- the 2000 Olympic champion -- make the medal podium.
Tichelaar's role wasn't articulated during a media conference call Monday morning with the athletes and Triathlon Canada executives. But Tichelaar confirmed in a later interview that the federation wants him to work on team tactics.
"What kind of reasonable decision is that?" said the blunt Tichelaar, who with three top-eights on the World Cup circuit this season and his strong effort Sunday could well be a medal contender himself.
"There was a little unbelief, well maybe not unbelief because I was kind of expecting something like this from this group of people," he added.
"It took the wind out of my sails. Here was something I should have been celebrating and I'm a little ambivalent now. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole situation," added Tichelaar, who said he wanted to take a couple of days to ponder his position "before I really open my mouth."
He certainly isn't shy about doing that. Last week, he directed pointed comments towards Triathlon Canada for the way the qualifying standard was toughened and at Whitfield for being a "big dog" who needs to "get his bone."
Whitfield said Tichelaar was being disrespectful and petty. On the conference call, they tried to make nice and Tichelaar said he believes they can "sort out" any disagreements. But he's clearly not fully onboard.
Many believe the qualifying standard was toughened to ensure team selection would be turned over to the high-performance committee and result in Jenkins, who was being openly campaigned for by Whitfield, being added at the expense of higher-ranked teammates Jones and Brent McMahon of Victoria.
National team head coach Joel Filliol, who was on the high-performance committee, said the standard represented what it would take to win an (Olympic medal) and Tichelaar didn't achieve that.
On the conference call, both Filliol and Whitfield reiterated that with team tactics coming more and more into play -- and national team funding based in part on winning medals -- it's essential to use a team concept in Beijing.
"I can't say enough about the tremendous effort Triathlon Canada put into this," said Whitfield. "It's cutting edge. I bumped into one of the Australian coaches (Monday morning) and he said 'you guys are smart' and nodded. It's a tribute to the fact we've thought this through.
"We're putting together a team that's about medal contention. The pressure's on me. We set this team up, now I have to go and perform."
The idea is that Tichelaar and, in particular, Jenkins -- who is an excellent swimmer and strong on the bike -- can help Whitfield if he comes out behind the lead pack in the swim. Or, they could cover breakaways by strong cyclists during the 40-kilometre bike leg.
McMahon, a 2004 Olympian who was 17th on Sunday, said he was the victim of politics and would have had to do something "miraculous" to change what he believed were the already made-up minds of the high-performance committee.
He also said he believes it would be better to have three athletes strong in all disciplines working together at Beijing, and he questioned whether Jenkins can do much to affect things.
"At the end of the day, Simon has to be ready to win on his own. If he's not in a position to win, it doesn't matter what Colin or Paul do."
Meanwhile, a decision on the selection of the women's team for Beijing has been delayed, likely to give the high-performance committee time to collect more information on the left heel injury suffered a week ago by Victoria teenager Kirsten Sweetland.
Vancouver's Lauren Groves has pre-qualified for Beijing. Those in the running for the final two spots are Sweetland, Edmonton's Carolyn Murray and Montreal's Kathy Tremblay.
Also this one:
Whitfield to get help in triathlon medal bid
JAMES CHRISTIE
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
The pressure of winning a triathlon medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics sits on the shoulders of Simon Whitfield, and the gold medalist at the 2000 Games appreciates that's where it belongs after Triathlon Canada put a “helper” in the Olympic field to boost him toward the podium.
“This is about winning medals,” Whitfield said in a teleconference yesterday in which his ticket to Beijing was confirmed, along with those of Paul Tichelaar of Edmonton and Colin Jenkins of Hamilton.
Jenkins's specific role is not to compete for a medal for Canada, but to sacrifice himself as a domestique in a team-racing strategy, setting up Whitfield, 33, for a run at the medals.
The nomination of Jenkins for the team over Brent McMahon of Victoria – whose 17th place finish in the world championships got Canada's men a third spot in Beijing – has invited criticism.
However, McMahon said last night he will not appeal Triathlon Canada's picks.
“They've been pushing this way of racing for the past year and we knew going in you'd have to be in the top eight at the worlds to be automatically selected,” he said of Jenkins's selection. “I just hope Paul gets to run his own race, because he's shown he's a contender.”
Tichelaar had said last week that Triathlon Canada was plainly building around Whitfield's potential as “the big dog” in the pack. “And he's getting his bone.”
Yesterday, in the wake of a ninth-place finish at the worlds, Tichelaar said he was happy the selection ordeal was over and believed the three teammates would train together harmoniously. “We're balancing some of the top athletes in the sport with some fair-sized egos. We held it pretty much together.”
Whitfield said taking heat is an inevitable consequence of realism. With a level of confidence bordering on audacity, he reckoned he's Canada's main medal threat and is glad that Triathlon Canada gave one of the three spots to an athlete who accepts the role of setup man in the swimming and cycling portions of the triathlon.
“I can't say enough about the cutting edge Triathlon Canada is trying to put in,” Whitfield said. “I just passed one of the Australian coaches and he said he wished they were as smart as we are.
“At the end of the day, the pressure falls on my shoulders. … The Canadian sports system is funded based on winning medals, not on just participating. When Triathlon Canada tries to put together a team with that goal, we're bound to take a little criticism. But they're walking the walk after having talked the talk.”
Jenkins, who finished 55th in the world championships, is a strong swimmer and cyclist and knows his role is to put Whitfield in a position to challenge Spain's world champion, Javier Gomez, who has been on the podium the past 16 times he has raced.
“When the criteria came out, I talked to [Olympic coach] Joel Filliol, and we decided my best chance to make the team would be to show myself as a team racer, and over the last 12 months I've tried to perfect that role,” Jenkins said. “I have no pipe dream I would be on top of the podium in Beijing. It isn't about me. … I'm going to Beijing to try and help Simon win. That's my role and I've been fine with that for the past 12 to 18 months.”
Whitfield said he felt for McMahon, the Pan American Games silver medalist who had been his teammate in Athens. “He had an extraordinary [world championship] and he should be proud of that. … But with all respect, he had four chances to make the team and this was his fourth chance.”
Jenkins won the pot in a poker game he didn't relish. In order to be selected, he said, he knew he had to rely on McMahon securing Canada a third spot for Beijing.
“It's a hard position to be in,” he said. “I knew people's emotions would get high and some would be upset.”
He said he will work hard on swimming and biking at the expense of his running.
At the next World Cup, in Des Moines, Iowa, he and Whitfield will have one more chance to practise their teamwork, with Jenkins jockeying Whitfield to the front of the swim pack, then leading him in cycling so that he saves energy by drafting.
“The chances of winning change by small percentages,” Whitfield said. “We have to put every advantage forward we can.”
He said the French, Australians, Swiss and possibly the Russians will race using team strategies in Beijing as well.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Double Debut
Yesterday was a day of firsts for Hosspro Services.
1. A friend and client successfully finished her first Triathlon yesterday at the Lakeside Sprint Triathlon. Yaaahoooo! It was an extremely hot day 30+ degrees so it was a job well done. Way to go Alison.
500m Swim (13:31)
T1 (3:06)
18 km Bike (40:50)
4 km Run (26:51)
Total - 1:25:59
2. I made my race announcing debut at the same Lakeside race yesterday. I was a very long day (I did the adult and kids races) but a fun learning experience. Thanks to the "Golden girl" for her driving, fetching, and athlete spotting duties. Along with much thanks to John Salt of Multipsport Canada for letting me give it a try.
Added notes:
Since I could not physically race, it was great getting my race fix by being at the race yesterday by doing some announcing and hanging out with many faces I hand not seen since last season. I must admit it was a bit frustrating at times because I realized that had I not been injured, I had a good chance to win this race and it minimum a top 4 overall. Grrrrr.
1. A friend and client successfully finished her first Triathlon yesterday at the Lakeside Sprint Triathlon. Yaaahoooo! It was an extremely hot day 30+ degrees so it was a job well done. Way to go Alison.
500m Swim (13:31)
T1 (3:06)
18 km Bike (40:50)
4 km Run (26:51)
Total - 1:25:59
2. I made my race announcing debut at the same Lakeside race yesterday. I was a very long day (I did the adult and kids races) but a fun learning experience. Thanks to the "Golden girl" for her driving, fetching, and athlete spotting duties. Along with much thanks to John Salt of Multipsport Canada for letting me give it a try.
Added notes:
Since I could not physically race, it was great getting my race fix by being at the race yesterday by doing some announcing and hanging out with many faces I hand not seen since last season. I must admit it was a bit frustrating at times because I realized that had I not been injured, I had a good chance to win this race and it minimum a top 4 overall. Grrrrr.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Pics from the ITU World Championships in Vancouver
Thanks to Gord Avann (fellow racing buddy), he sent me these pics fresh from Vancouver. Enjoy.
Best of Luck to Gord, Karen Gamble, Peter Geering and the rest of Team Canada.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how Simon Whitfield, Paul Tichelaar, Kirsten Sweetland, Kathy Tremblay and Carolyn Murray do in the Elite races. There is some big time competition to make the Olympic Team.
Best of Luck to Gord, Karen Gamble, Peter Geering and the rest of Team Canada.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how Simon Whitfield, Paul Tichelaar, Kirsten Sweetland, Kathy Tremblay and Carolyn Murray do in the Elite races. There is some big time competition to make the Olympic Team.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Ruture pics & Surgery
I had the surgery on Sunday morning and have just been recovering for the past few days.
The pain comes and goes but taking the pain medication makes me extra dopey so I try and stay away from them.
I've found a community of fellow achilles rupture sufferers who have a bunch of blogs that have been very informative. I've joined them in the hopes that I can provide useful information to others in the same boat. http://achillesblog.com/hoss/
Here are some pics of my injury prior to the surgery:
The pain comes and goes but taking the pain medication makes me extra dopey so I try and stay away from them.
I've found a community of fellow achilles rupture sufferers who have a bunch of blogs that have been very informative. I've joined them in the hopes that I can provide useful information to others in the same boat. http://achillesblog.com/hoss/
Here are some pics of my injury prior to the surgery:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)