Posted: July 1, 2006

Triathlon: National Awards Banquet a Huge Success

Mark Bates, Triathlon Canada's 4th Hall of Fame Inductee and Triathlon Canada President Stephen Holmes - Photo: triathlon Canada

Triathlon Canada’s National Awards banquet, on the heels of the HSBC Brampton Nationals on Sunday, was all about Mark Bates and his induction into Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame. There were many great competitors on hand to celebrate the 2005 National Award winners; including overall athlete of the year winners Simon Whitfield and Samantha McGlone, but this night belonged to Bates - a 6-time National Champion.

Bates had a fantastic 14 year career that was highlighted by over 50 titles, including 4 Olympic Distance and 2 Long Distance National Championships. Bates finished 4th at the World Championships in Wellington, New Zealand, back in 1994 – the best ever finish by a Canadian male competitor in the World Championships. However, Mark’s best result in a major championship took place in 1995 at the Pan American Games in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, when he won the silver medal.

Of his 6 Canadian championships Bates says the Olympic Distance title in 1997 was the most memorable and the most rewarding. “I was coming off a major injury and I didn’t know if breaking my arm was going to ruin my career. It’s scary at the time because you never know how it’s going to heal.”

Bates, a 38-year-old, from Kingston, Ontario, was pleasantly surprised when he received an email from the National Office in Toronto informing him he had become the 4th member inducted into Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame for athletes. “At the time I thought I was too far removed from the inner circles of the sport,” Bates said tonight after the Awards Dinner. “I didn’t even realize they recognized previous athletes.” Encouraged to reflect on his storied career, Bates admitted it was nice to be remembered, “Because I put so much of my life into it.” I was one of the earliest competitive triathletes. In the late 80s and 90s I made it my profession.”

Simon Whitfield says Bates was a Canadian Triathlon pioneer, “Bates was the staple (Triathlon Canada Team Captain) for years and inspired so many younger athletes to get into in on a professional level with his quiet lead by example work ethic and drive. I travelled throughout the world with Mark and was always able to learn tricks of the trade from training to nutrition or sponsorship. I actually met Mark when he was my Queen's running camp coach, he gave me some race t-shirts and triathlon gear that inspired me to pursue the incredible sport he was forging a career at. It was an honour to race and train with Mark; it will always be an honour to be friends with him and his wonderful family."

The eighth annual Triathlon Canada Awards night, in conjunction with the National Championships on Sunday, was a night to reflect on the outstanding performances by 38 athletes who won awards in 22 different categories. For more on the award winners please click on the link below.

Tonight, Simon Whitfield continued his dominance of the National Awards by winning his 7th consecutive overall athlete of the year honour. As for the Olympic Distance/World Cup award – dating back to 1997, when the award was first handed out, Whitfield has won an unbelievable 9 in-a-row. Whitfield says these awards never get old, “It's an honour to be recognized and I'm sure I'll look back on it with a lot of pride when I'm old and grey but for now its "stay focused on the prize" time with a few years left in my career and a need to hold off Colin, Kyle, Tichelaar, Brent, Hastie and Groves/McGlone.”

Bates, with his 4 Olympic Distance National Championships – one behind Whitfield’s five, was asked tonight to name the most significant development in the sport. “Growth,” he answered without hesitation. “Don’t forget it was a relatively new sport, even worldwide, when I started in Kingston. Now there’s so much more opportunity for young kids, with the Kids of Steel programs and the advanced coaching. Simon Whitfield’s the best example of that, look at what he’s done for triathlon – it’s amazing to think where the sport was when I first started compared to today. I’m happy if I managed to somehow inspire others and raise awareness of the sport and then watching Simon inspire a whole new generation.”

Bates set many records during his storied career, but one record likely will stand the test of time. In 1992, Bates sprinted into the Kingston Triathlon record book by winning the long distance race in a staggering time of 2:32:29. Fourteen years later, that result still stands as the time to beat. Over the history of the 22-year event, not even Simon Whitfield, who won the race in 1997, could match Bates’ time. Whitfield, who was only 22-years-old at the time, was more than 3 minutes behind Bates’ record setting performance. Considering the advances made by the sport in the last 14 years, the record's longevity speaks volumes of the ability of the athlete who set it. Over the years the course has changed marginally making it almost impossible for anyone to match or better this blistering time. Over his remarkable career Bates set many course records, some will last forever, but one thing is for certain, Bates will always be remembered as one of the best triathletes of our time.

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

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