to move up and down
When Alan Trivett heard about the diagnosis, he flashed back to that morning in London last month, to the image of Paula Findlay sobbing as she finished the triathlon. She was in last place, and Trivett saw her mouth the words “I’m sorry” as she passed the friends and family who were watching her struggle from the stands.
Moments later, she apologized to all of Canada.
The 23-year-old was the 52nd and final woman to cross the line, betrayed by a poor swim and dead legs in her Olympic debut. She thought about quitting when she was still on the course, but kept fighting, telling reporters: “My legs weren’t working … stupid legs.”
On Tuesday, it became clearer why they were not working. Findlay revealed she has been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, a common condition, but one with symptoms that include a lack of energy.
Simon Whitfield’s wife Jennie and daughter Pippa cry following the news that Simon had been knocked out of the race following a crash on the bike during the men’s triathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The Canadian was in good position following a 1.5-kilometre swim but lost control of his bike after going over a small speed bump coming out of the transition. Whitfield veered sharply to the left and went careening off his bike into a curb and metal guard-rail. He knocked another competitor down in the process.
This was expected to be his last race. (Photo: Tyler Anderson/National Post)
Canada’s Olympic flagbearer is … triathlete Simon Whitfield.
He became a surprise hero for Canada at the Olympics in Sydney 12 years ago — and a source of inspiration four years ago in Beijing — will carry the flag for the Canadian delegation at the London Olympics later this month.
Word leaked out before the announcement was made official Thursday in Ottawa.
Other contenders to carry the flag included cyclist Catharine Pendrel, show jumper Ian Millar and diver Alexandre Despatie, who told reporters he would decline if chosen. Who was your pick for flagbearer?
Simon Whitfield races toward family life at finish line of Olympic career
When Simon Whitfield was 21 years old, he was in way over his head. He was at the national triathlon championships in Corner Brook, Nfld., and it was just him and an older guy, and they were both running flat out, and it was the young man who cracked. Whitfield slowed to a jog, then walked, and eventually saw a kiddie pool in a front yard and plunked himself down in it, singlet and all. The owner of the house came out. There was a moment of tension.
“I thought I was in trouble,” says Whitfield, now 37, smiling all the way up to his deep blue eyes. “And he said, “You need a beer, son?’ And I said, ‘Sounds good.’ So I drank this beer in this turtle pool.”
* * *
Simon Whitfield is sitting on the patio of the Detour Café in Dundas, Ont., and as always, he appears to have been boiled away to the essentials. He is still in his red-and-white bike outfit, and he orders the quinoa salad, a cappuccino, the squash soup, some water. It is, in a way, one of many last meals.
“We’re giving this the absolute best crack we can,” he says, between bites. “It’s a pretty monumental challenge, to be completely honest. In 2008 it didn’t feel — I was ranked second in the world, and we had this great plan, and to be honest, I didn’t think about it all that much. But it didn’t seem that monumental.”
Triathletes start their 2.4 mile (3.9 km) swim at the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii October 8, 2011. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry
