Mari Rabie wins Bronze at World Champs

After a testing season Mari Rabie does what we all knew she was capable of and races to the Bronze medal at World Champs in the U23 event.

After an almost 5- week lay off from running to rest up a niggly leg, Mari exited the water first in the swim and rode in the 3 person break away group on the bike and she 'hung tough' to come home as the first ever South African to win a medal in the U23 event.

This was a GREAT come back event for Mari and is now on track again to achieve big things in Beijing in August.

Ashley Finaughty - Great Triathlon Talent form Africa

Ashley Finaughty (ZIM) after an excellent swim in Vancouver

Ashley Finaughty's 4th place at the junior World Championships heralds the arrival of the next generation of triathlon stars in Africa. Ashley has been part of the BG Triathlon Sport Development process. She attended a coaching course in Zimbabwe (partially funded by ITU) coached by Craig Redman(AUS) where he wAas quick to spot her talent. She then attended the BG Triathlon World Junior Camp in Hungary after which she travelled to Australia (arranged by Craig)where she has now set up her training base in Brisbane and is under the guidance of Coach Steven Moss. Her improvement has been phenomenal and her talent coupled with her work ethic stands her in good stead as she approaches the lead up into the 2012 Olympics.

Ashley has set a new standard for young triathletes from Africa!

Abrahm Louw shows his Class

Abrahm Louw (NAM) leads the chase group

In his first ever World Championship event, Abrahm Louw (NAM), just 16 years old, raced to his best performance ever finishing in an excellent 20th position in the freezing cold conditions in Vancouver, Canada. Abrahm was the best placed finisher of all the African participants outsprinting his friend and training partner Wikus Weber (RSA), who also notched up his best ever performance (21st) at a World Championship event.

Both these young athletes are talents for their respective countries for 2012 Olympic Games in London.

In the company of a legend - Simon Whitfield

Triathlon group from Africa with Simon Whitfield and Pippa.

Abrahm Louw(Namibia) and Wikus Weber (RSA) with Simon after Durrance Lake swim

Icing legs in Cadbora Bay after running on Elk Lake Trails

The group of triathletes from Africa rounded up their preparation camp in the company of a legend. They swam in the beautiful Durrance Lake, dined at a local food mall, held his 2000 Olympic Gold Medal in their and listened to Simon's amazing stories on a day where he unselfishly gave up his valuable time to make a difference in the lives of this young group. To top it all Simon showered the group with gifts from his sponsors and for the rest of the evening the kids from Africa were in awe of this fine young man and could not stop talking about their time with "the legend".

Once again I was reminded of the importance of role models. Simon Whitfield was the cherry on the top of an amazing pre World Champs training camp in Victoria, Canada. What an amazing training location. We will be back for sure !!!

Conrad Stoltz wins XTerra West Champs

Conrad Stoltz wins XTerra West Championships making it 6 wins in 7 years

(Photo by Rich Cruse)

Conrad Stoltz swam well, biked like a superstar and ran strong in the horrendously hot conditions of the XTerra West Championship event in Temecula, California. A great start to his 2008 season which will see him racing both the USA and the Europe circuits for the first time ever.

This was just the start he had hoped for and a great performance considering he is still in his base training phase!

GREAT JOB CONRAD !

Leonardo Chacon - A young man with the heart of a lion

Leonardo Chacon (COSTA RICA)

Today I pay tribute to a young man with the heart of a lion! At a time where Leonardo Chacon (COSTA RICA) has almost watched his 2008 Olympic hopes and dreams fade away with bad luck (a crash in Mooloolaba, Australia and then a plastic packet getting stuck in his back derrailleur of his bike and totally putting him out of the race) he has jumped onto yet another long haul flight this time to South Africa and run his way into an excellent 16th spot at the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup blowing new life into his possible Olympic journey. Bad luck nearly ruined it again for him though when his bike box went missing on the flight from the USA only to arrive in Richards Bay on the morning of the race! Despite all of this he stayed focussed on the job at hand and delivered one of his very best world cup performances of his career.

In my books Leo is a superstar in the making with an attitude that will stand him in good stead in his triathlon career for many years to come.

Leo - you were the highlight of theWorld Cup week-end for me! There will be many more great days for you in the future!

Triathlon South Africa supports incredible project in KwaZulu Natal

SA Elite Triathletes with leading "Tree- Entrepenuer" Thobela at his nursery.

TSA President - Gideon Sam and his Elite Team along with some of competitors at duathlon event.

South Africa's Elite Triahtletes with the some 464 competitors

in the Esikhawini Community Challenge

In KwaZulu Natal, the Wildlands Trust has initiated an indigenous tree growing project with the community to generate income for this impoverished community. The seedling trees are then sold by the Wildlands Trust to companies that rehabilitate land disturbed through mining and other activities. The young "Tree-preneurs" earn a money value for each tree they grow up to a height of 30 cm and can then exchange this for needed goods. Once they have grown 150 such trees they earn a bicycle and a helmet of their own and are encouraged to participate in multi-sport events.

All but 6 of the of the 464 competitors at the duathlon event held over the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup week-end have already grown their 150 trees and been presented with their brand new yellow bicycles and helmets and lined up at the Esikhawini Community Challenge for what was a tremendous event and a wonderful sport development initiative.

I felt both humbled and privileged to be part the day.