Posted: June 19, 2006

Triathlon: Addendum to Original Press Release “Changes to Triathlon Canada’s National Teams”

Three weeks ago, Triathlon Canada issued a press release announcing it will no longer name Elite National teams for the disciplines of Duathlon and Long Distance beginning in 2007. After many phone calls and e-mails concerning the original document, we felt it was important to answer some of these questions in the form of a follow-up press release. The purpose of this second write-up is to clarify some ambiguity in the initial article dated May 25, 2006.

In order to provide the triathlon community with full clarity to the recent changes implemented to the 2007 Elite National Teams, Triathlon Canada wants to make it very clear that the National Championships in Duathlon and Long Distance, in all divisions, will go on as they always have. Triathlon Canada will also continue to send teams to the World Championships in both Duathlon and Long Distance in all categories (Juniors, Under-23s, Elites and Age Groupers).

Triathlon Canada’s Executive Director, Alan Trivett, says these changes will not affect the majority of Duathletes and Long Distance Triathletes. “There are currently eight Long Distance National Elite Team members and four Duathlon National Elite Team members. Next year, these 12 elite athletes will still have an opportunity to participate in the National Championships and World Championships just like they always have – the difference is they won’t be designated as members of the National Elite Team. Triathlon Canada’s Elite National Teams will now be based exclusively on Olympic Distance results.”

Triathlon Canada will continue to recognize these Elite National Team members in the Long Distance and Duathlon disciplines in various ways. First, these athletes will be honoured through the year-end National Awards Program. Second, they will have the opportunity to represent Canada as members of the World Championship team and finally according to Trivett, “Triathlon Canada will promote and publicize its Duathlon and Long Distance athletes at the World Championships and National Championships through the website – our primary vehicle to disseminate information.”

Triathlon Canada’s in-coming High Performance Director, Tom Patrick, said some of these Long Distance athletes put Canada on the map back in the late nineties. “Athletes like Peter Reid, Lori Bowden, Heather Fuhr and Lisa Bentley have done so much for the sport and represented Canada with so much class and dignity – of course we’ll continue to follow their results and celebrate their successes in major races.”

Triathlon Canada’s President, Stephen Holmes, who is an active triathlete and a recent Age Group National team member, says Triathlon Canada will continue to have Elite and Age Group National Teams travelling to the World Championships. “These athletes will be supported as they have been in the past. In regard to the Elite champions, they will continue to receive funding and uniforms to the World Championships. We will continue to have the same recognition in awards and on our website.”

So far the area of funding has been a tricky issue. This recent decision, approved by the Board back in April, will have significant financial impact on the province of Quebec and its Elite athletes in the Duathlon and Long Distance disciplines. Athletes in Quebec that have been named to an Elite National Team are eligible to receive government funding. Trivett explained this is a sensitive area; some of these athletes are very dependant on this government funding. “Triathlon Canada and its Board of Directors are working with Triathlon Quebec to settle this matter so that in the long run everybody is happy.” Trivett later stressed the importance of this major issue, “Funding is a necessity for all of our athletes and we realize the urgency to get this resolved as quickly as possible to ensure our best athletes are racing in a stress free environment.”

Triathlon Canada is the National Federation for the Sport of Triathlon and Duathlon in Canada.

Original Article Released May 25, 2006

Changes to Triathlon Canada’s National Teams

Triathlon Canada announced today it will no longer name National Teams for the disciplines of Duathlon and Long Distance beginning in 2007. This decision was made to better align Triathlon Canada with its primary funding partners, namely Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee, and their mutual goals of podium performances at Olympic Distance World Championships and Major Games.

Triathlon Canada will continue to designate teams for the World Championships in Olympic Distance, Duathlon and Long Distance; however, Triathlon Canada’s National Teams will be based exclusively on Olympic Distance results.

Executive Director Alan Trivett said Triathlon Canada will now concentrate on its mandate to focus on Olympic Distance athletes and Olympic Distance events. “We have always been about podium performances at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games – any athlete who wishes to be on the National Team will qualify based on Olympic Distance qualifying criteria.”

Trivett said the new policy was ratified by the Board of Directors at the Semi-Annual Board Meeting last month in Toronto. “The Board was unanimous in their decision and they’ve made it very clear that Olympic Distance athletes and Gold Medal performances in Major Games is where our focus needs to be.”

Triathlon Canada will continue to organize National Championships in all 3 disciplines and promote and publicize all the Long Distance and Duathlon athletes through the Triathlon Canada website at the World Championships and National Championships.

Comment on this story.

Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest