New Beginnings in Whistler, CANADA

In April of 2010 I relocated to Whistler BC to start a new life with my long time friend Jannie Grobler. We were running partners way back when and now we get to share the rest of our lives together in this beautiful location. I have the added bonus of now being closer to the ITU headquarters so work wise this was also an excellent move in the right direction.

Life is good!

Rio to host 2016 Olympic Games

After much speculation Rio was announced as the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games. This will be the first time the Olympics will be hosted in South America. I cannot help wondering if Africa will ever be considered a viable stop off for this greatest sporting show on earth!

Back to Blogging and a new challenge

After an up and down year I am getting back to my blog. So much has changed in my life and I am busy picking up the pieces after losing my best friend and soulmate to cancer in April this year.

Australian Youth Olympic Festival

Scenes from 2007 AYOF Opening Ceremony.

The 2009 season starts for ITU Sport Development with a trip to the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, Australia. http://www.olympics.com.au/index.cfm?objectid=456E854D-C0B4-11DD-B9D495EE830CCCAB

A team of 6 athletes will represent ITU Sport Development at this event:

Min Ho Heo (Korea)

Ognjen Stojanovic (Serbia)

Abrahm Louw (Namibia)

Song Nan Lee (Korea)

Gaby Bolanos (Guatemala)

Charlotte Wetzlar (Zimbabwe)

Team Coach: Jamie Turner (AUS)

Team Manager: Libby Burrell (ITU)

The team assembles in Wollongong, Australia on January 10th to take part in pre-event team camp and the athletes will compete in the individual event on January 16th and the team event on January 17th.

Happy Birthday Conrad!

Photo: Rich Cruise

Conrad has graced the pro race courses in our sport for almost two decades and is still my hero as a person and as an athlete. He is PASSIONATE and always has time for young and old. He personifies all that is good in sport!

Conrad turns 35 years old on October 23rd and races Xterra World Champs in Maui on the week-end. He is the reigning World Champ and a already legend in this format of the sport.

As Simon Whitfield said in his blog recently: (http://simonwhitfield.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html)

In my 13 years racing on the World Cup Stoltz was simply one of the nicest and most interesting guys you could ever meet.

Happy Birthday Conrad.......may you keep tearing up the trails for many years to come !

Kleinmond - the place I call 'home'

Kleinmond Lagoon
Athlete Tent Village for over night stop on Cape Odyssey

Start area for Cape Odyssey (5 days- 200 km)


Bridge over lagoon to finish area after final 11km run on beach - Day 1

I am back to regular blogging now !

After Beijing, blogging took a back seat while I caught up with life, family and friends.Returning to 'reality' was oh so sweet. Do not get me wrong, being in Beijing was amazing but the lead up to, and the process itself, was a drain on everyone involved.

Now, back on home soil, I am running madly preparing for my first marathon in years and enjoying the time in the hills around Kleinmond.

I have also have included some photos of the Kleinmond stop- over while all 'dressed up' for the Cape Odyssey -5 day Running Adventure (200km run over the mountains). What a beautiful venture and what an exciting race/challenge. I think I have been inspired to race the 2009 version of this great race.

The good news on this side of the world is - Summer is coming fast!!!! Time to enjoy even more of the outdoors again once the ITU year comes to a close.

Two more trips (Brazil and Spain) and then 2 weeks of holiday - in Kleinmond.

African Triathletes in Beijing!

Chris Felgate (ZIM) flagged by RSA's Mari Rabie and Kate Roberts

Race day is around the corner and the athletes from Africa are ready to go! Chris competes on Tuesday 19th while Kate and Mari will be diving into the waters of the Shinsaling Reservoir in Beijing , China at 10:00 on Monday 18th culminating many years of hard work to achieve their dream of becoming an Olympian.

Hats off to these fine young athletes!

Postcards from Beijing!

Mari and Kate at race venue in Beijing

Libby and Andrew (ITU media and TV) at National Stadium
Libby outside Aquatics Centre

Libby at swimming to watch Phelps take another Gold!

Libby, Sean and Daniel in Broadcast Studio

Libby, Mari and Kate at swim session on another rainy day!

Libby with Sports Presentation staff at race site

Rabie and Roberts are Beijing Bound!

Mari Rabie

Kate Roberts

For the first time ever South Africa have selected TWO women for the Olympic Triahtlon Team. Kate Roberts and Mari Rabie will join Hendrik De Villiers in Beijing in August. After a two year qualification period that literally had them circumnavigating the globe, Olympic selection is just reward for their grit and determination. We are all very proud of them and wish them well at the greatest sporting show on earth !

For Kate and Mari the wait is nearly over!

Kate Roberts and Mari Rabie will know in just 5 days if they will be part of the South African Olympic Team to compete in Beijing. Despite the official announcement still pending, they are preparing hard for the Olympic Games both very confident they have both done enough to be on the start line in Beijing.

Kate is doing her final preparation at home in Bloemfontein using the altitude factor (Bloemfontein is 1,800m above sea level) as a key part of her preparation plans.

Mari is currently in Leeds in the UK making use of the excellent running and riding opportunities there in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

They will spend 10 days in Stellenbosch doing their final sea level preparation before we head off to Beijing on 8th August!

Chris Felgate to line up in Beijing

Chris Felgate (BG scholarship athlete) will be Zimbabwe's second every Olympic triathlete.

After 4 years of commitment to his goal and loads travel to race against the best in the world Chris was given the nod by the Zimababwe Olympic Committee. He is currently training in Holland with Sander Berk and will travel from there to Korea with the Dutch Olympic Team to prepare alongside Sander and then on to Beijing.

Chris has been an example of commitment and dedication despite the odds! He is a symbol of what the Olympic Games is all about ! I am proud to be able to share this journey with him.

Erhard Wolfaardt wins Elite SA Duathlon Champs in time off

Erhard Wolfaardt- 2008 Champion (Elite)

Erhard Wolfaardt decided to race the 2008 SA Duathlon Championships during his short break from international racing because it was an event in his home town and there was no travelling required! Despite being on his short break from full training and it being an event at 1,800m altitude, he raced solidly and took the title in his stride. His only challenge came from an age group duathlon specialist Brand Du Plessis from Central Gauteng. But, Erhard knew what he had to do to win the Elite title and he went out and did just that.

Erhard resumes training on Monday 7th July preparing for the rest of the domestic season in South Africa and the 2009 international circuit.

The four year plan through to London 2012 has now begun!

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.

A World Cup on home soil for South African Triathletes!

South African Elite Triathletes race ready for Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup

(Photo: Dr.Carol Austin)

The BG Triathlon World Cup Circuit comes to South Africa again this week and will take place on the 'tried and tested' Richards Bay course. In 2007 history was made when Hendrik De Villiers (RSA) became first South African male or female to win a World Cup event. Local fans will be hoping for the same again this year but the cream of theWorld Cup Crop will be here and the quality of field is way higher than in the two previous World Cups on the same course so we can only hope the local triathletes come with their 'A-game' and use the home ground to their advantage.

I know most of us are excited that we will all only have to fly 2 hours to get to the event instead of the usual 20 hours plus of energy sapping trans-continental travel.

Also lining up will be 11 past and present Team BG triathletes hoping to earn valuable Olympic points to help them onto the start line in Beijing.