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.