Canadian stars toeing the line
Special To The Herald
A star-studded group of elite triathletes representing all facets of the Triathlon Canada Nation will lead more than 1,000 Canadians to the start line at the first Multisport World Championships Aug. 18-27 in Penticton.
Canada will field the nation’s top professional athletes for the historic event that will crown World Champions in six of the International Triathlon Union’s premier events — duathlon (sprint and standard distance), aquathlon, cross triathlon, long-course triathlon, and aquabike.
All races include elite, under-23, junior, paratriathlon, age group and open-wave categories.
“The eyes of the triathlon world are going to be on Penticton, and Canada, for 10 days in August with more than 3,000 athletes representing 50 countries around the globe,” said Kim Van Bruggen, chief executive officer, Triathlon Canada.
“Team Canada is ready to put on a show in this ground-breaking event that will have a massive impact on our sport.”
One dozen Canucks (six men and six women) will be focused on seeing the Canadian flag raised above the podium in the long distance event.
One of the most successful Ironman athletes in the world over the last three years, Lionel Sanders of Windsor, Ont., will headline an impressive six-pack of Canadian men who have all medalled at long distance races internationally.
Sanders will be joined by Penticton’s own Jeff Symonds, Trevor Wurtele (Kelowna), Steven Kilshaw (Victoria), Calgary’s Jordan Bryden and Cody Beals (Fergus, Ont.),
Six powerful British Columbia women will be a force to reckon with in the long distance World Championship race.
Six-time Ironman winner,Heather Wurtele of Kelowna and bronze-medal winner at the 2013 Long Distance World Championships, Rachel McBride of Vancouver, will lead the charge for the red and white.
They will be joined by Penticton’s Jen Annett, Karen Thibodeau (Victoria), Melanie McQuaid (Victoria), and Fawn Whiting (Vancouver).
In the past, World Championship races for each discipline were held individually around the world. Canada was selected out of four bid cities to host to the inaugural event in Penticton given its long history of hosting major international triathlon events.
Two of those elite athletes taking advantage of being able to start in multiple races are Melanie McQuaid and Jordan Bryden who will also suit up in the cross triathlon race.
McQuaid will be joined by four other Canadian women from B.C. including: Annie Bergen (Kelowna), Zoe Dawson (Squamish), Katherine Carter (North Vancouver), and Katie Button (Sechelt).
Bryden will be joined by Karsten Madsen (Guelph, Ont.), Jean-Philippe Thibodeau (Quebec City), Darren Smith (Victoria) and Nathan Killam (Vancouver) in men’s cross triathlon action.
Thibodeau and Killam will also represent Canada in the aquathlon with National Team athlete Matt Sharpe of Victoria, and John Rasmussen (Ancaster, Ont.).
Rasmussen is scheduled to also hit the start line with Edmonton’s Jesse Bauer in the Duathlon World Championship race.
The Multisport World Championships also gives many of Canada’s under-23 and junior athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic pathway additional international race experience close to home. Victoria’s Holly Henry will suit up in the junior division of the long distance and cross-triathlon races.
Desirae Ridenour, of Cowichan Bay, B.C., who won last weekend’s CAMTRI Junior North American Championships in Magog, Que., will compete in the aquathlon.
Jackson Konkin, of Trail, who had a careerbest eighth-place finish in Magog will also hit the start line for the aquathlon.
Both athletes will also compete in the junior duathlon event. Paralypmic silver medallist, Stefan Daniel of Calgary, along with National Development Team member, Brennen Smith of Regina, will both compete in the under-23 division of the duathlon.
A team of 1,000 Canadians who share a passion to swim, bike and run, will discover what they are made of while toeing the line in age group racing for each of the World Championship disciplines.
Each of the competitions will start and finish in the heart of Penticton with the spectatorfriendly courses featuring a variety of terrain that takes athletes past some of the Penticton’s many vistas, wineries and landmarks, as well as the downtown area, adding to the overall festival atmosphere.
“Given its rich history with triathlon, there is no better place in the world to give the nod to hosting this prestigious inaugural event than Penticton,” added Van Bruggen.
“The sport of triathlon has its roots deeply entrenched in North America with areas like Penticton leading the way in Canada.
“I know the organizers and volunteers are ready to put on an incredible event for all of the athletes as they welcome the world to Penticton in 30 days.”
For complete information on the 2017 Multisport World Championships Festival, please visit penticton2017.com/.