Posted: March 26, 2005

Triathlon: Kim Loeffler joins LifeSport

Victoria, British Columbia – Kim Loeffler, the 2004 U.S. Ironman champion, has signed up for professional coaching services from Lance Watson’s LifeSport Coaching, the Victoria, Canada-based company that specializes in providing world-class coaching to all levels of athletes, both professional and age group.

Watson is a two-time Olympic coach who coached short-course star Simon Whitfield to an Olympic gold medal in 2000 and who currently works with seven-time Ironman champion Lisa Bentley plus ITU star and 2004 Olympian Greg Bennett from Australia. “Kim approached me after Ironman USA Lake Placid last year, where she finished fourth (and first American) in 9:54:27,” says Watson. “She wanted to take her racing to the next level. This is her first full winter of proper base training. We are working on bringing her swim and bike up to match her tremendous run.”

“I called Lance last year after Ironman USA Lake Placid,” says Loeffler. “I have always been impressed by his extensive knowledge of exercise physiology and how he successfully applies this knowledge to develop effective training programs. He knows what it takes to race at the top level, and I am very excited to be working with him in 2005.”

Loeffler lives in Vermont and is a former track star with a 5K PR in the low-16-minute range. After working with Watson for three months, she finished 14th among pro women (and the second American female pro) at the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 2004.

This season Loeffler plans to race Ralphs California Half Ironman, Wildflower, the Florida Half Ironman, Ironman USA Lake Placid plus Ironman Hawaii.

A Human Kinetics graduate (with a sport psychology minor), Lance Watson has coached at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2003 Pan American Games. He has been head coach at several national-team events and coached at various Ironman, ITU World Cup and world-championship events. He was named “Triathlon Canada Elite Coach Of The Year” for four consecutive years, from 2000-2003.

LifeSport offers world-class coaching programs designed by Watson and tailored to suit the needs of every athlete, from Ironman champion to first-time triathlete. Visit www.lifesport.ca, e-mail coach@lifesport.ca or call 250-658-9556 for more information.