Dear Athletes,

As part of our continued efforts to help make your stay in Vancouver as enjoyable as possible; the Triathlon Vancouver Organizing Committee (TVOC) has partnered with PropertyCop in an effort to help protect your bikes. PropertyCop is a program endorsed by the British Columbia Chiefs of Police Association and has been recognized by stakeholder groups in the cycling community and by local politicians.

In order to help prepare in advance for bike security when you are in Vancouver, please visit the PropertyCop website now at https://propertycop.org and register your bicycle(s) online for free.

Registering your name and contact telephone number, along with any descriptive information about your bicycle (including the serial number), will aid police officers across our region in helping to get the property back to you should it be located during their investigations. With a few minutes of proactive effort before you arrive in Vancouver, you can assist us in helping to reduce property crime by pre-registering your bicycle(s) and/or other property such as laptops and more.

Propertycop will also have a presence during Race Week. The program’s volunteers will be busy affixing small Propertycop stickers to bicycles during event registration. These stickers will help police officers in the field, more quickly identify a Propertycop registered bicycle and increase the chances of it being recovered.

We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Mr W. David Brierley, President of Propertycop Property Registration and Recovery Society, for his support.

Vancouver, Canada (May 8, 2008) - The countdown continues to the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships. Four weeks from today, the first day of competition will begin at English Bay and Stanley Park as more than 3,000 athletes from 45 countries will take part in the 20th edition of ITU's flagship event.

"With the world championships just four weeks away, we're very confident all the months of planning and preparation will produce one of the best world championships ever," said Philip Davis, Vice-President of the Triathlon Vancouver Organizing Committee (TVOC) and Director of Operations. "It's incredible to feel the excitement building in the city as we head towards the event. We're looking forward to a great turnout at an exceptional venue, and showcasing Vancouver as a world-class sports city."

Momentum and community participation continue to build as the number of volunteers has exceeded 700 and quickly closing in on 1000. The Corporate Challenge is gaining entries from many local triathletes from businesses and companies and the event filling up quickly. Already teams have been entered from Tim Horton's, National Bank, Davis LLP, Ledcor Construction and the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

The world championships will climax with the elite women's and men's races on Sunday June 8. It will be the final Olympic qualifier for Canadians to earn selection to the Beijing Olympic team. Four Olympic spots (two men and two women) will be at stake for Canada's top triathletes. Sydney Olympic gold medalist Simon Whtifield (Victoria, BC) and Lauren Groves (Vancouver, BC) have already earned nominations to the Olympic team and lead the Canadian elite team racing in Vancouver that was announced by Triathlon Canada earlier this week. Kirsten Sweetland (Victoria, BC), Paul Tichelaar (Edmonton, AB), Kathy Tremblay (Montreal, QC), Carolyn Murray (Edmonton, AB) and Kyle Jones (Oakville, ON) have all had excellent performances on the BG Triathlon World Cup series in 2008 and will be on the start line for Team Canada in June.

"This is an event I have been looking forward to for a couple of years now. Last year's World Cup was a great course preview for me. I rarely get the chance to race in my home country, let alone my hometown, so this is very exciting for me," said the Beijing bound Groves.

A strong international contingent is expected to flock to Vancouver for the world championships including reigning world champion Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal and Spanish star Javier Gomez. Both are widely considered to be the early gold medal favourites in Beijing. The event also features a $250,000 USD prize purse equal for elite men and women. The 2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships will be the final event in ITU's 24-month Olympic qualification period which began on May 1, 2006.

Richards Bay, South Africa (May 4, 2008) - Carolyn Murray of Edmonton, AB made quite a statement today, winning today's Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup in South Africa, the first world cup title of her career and the 40th in Canadian triathlon history. Her previous best world cup result was an eighth place finish in Corner Brook, Newfoundland in 2005. With today's victory, Murray showed she is a strong contender for selection to the Canadian Olympic team.

"This is something I've been dreaming of forever," said Murray at the finish line, who needs a top-8 finish at the world championships in Vancouver on June 8 for a guaranteed spot in Beijing.

Kyle Jones of Oakville, ON posted his best world cup result, a fourth place finish in a highly competitive men's race won by world champion Daniel Unger of Germany. Like Murray, Jones fulfills the first requirement for Olympic selection with his top-8 performance.

Montreal's Kathy Tremblay also had an excellent outing with a fourth place finish. Both women jump into the top ten in the world rankings; Tremblay to number eight and Murray to tenth. Vancouver's Lauren Groves crossed the line in 13th place. Murray's victory secured a Canadian win streak in South Africa as Kirsten Sweetland of Victoria, BC also broke through for her first world cup win here last year. Sweetland chose not to defend her title.

Murray's race did not start out very promising as she exited the swim one minute and 15 seconds behind the leader, American Olympic hopeful Sarah Groff. But working with strong cyclist Tania Haiboeck of Austria, they reeled in the leaders and brought themselves back into contention.

"I had to work my butt off on the bike and it paid off. It finally paid off," said Murray. "I really had a terrible swim and I didn't realize how far back I was until I got to the bikes and there weren't any left. I knew if I didn't do anything to get up to the race was over. I had to go for it. On the run I thought, 'this is game on. Today is my day and I'm going for it'."

Just shy of the halfway mark on the 10-kilometer run, Murray started to break away and took a slim 4-second lead on Tremblay and Magali Di marco of Switzerland, the 2000 Olympic bronze medalist. With Australian Felicity Abram charging hard in the late stages, Murray held on for the biggest win of her career by a 3-second margin. Abram took the silver, edging out last year's silver medalist Di marco.

2008 Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Women - Official Results
Gold - Murray, Carolyn (Edmonton, AB) 2:03:32
Silver - Abram, Felicity (AUS) 2:03:35
Bronze - Di marco, Magali (SUI) 2:03:41
4th - Tremblay, Kathy (Montreal, QC) 02:03:51
13th - Groves, Lauren (Vancouver, BC) 02:04:48

Click here for full field results

Despite missing the podium by just ten seconds, Jones has set himself up for Olympic selection. He now needs a top-8 at world championships in Vancouver to earn a spot in Beijing. Jones also jumps to number nine in the world rankings, just ahead of Simon Whitfield who drops to number ten.

Victoria's Brent McMahon faltered in his quest for a top-8 result. Just 11 seconds off the lead with five kilometers to go, the 2004 Olympian fell apart and watched eight different men pass him in the third lap alone. He crossed the line in 18th place, almost two minutes behind the winner.

Unger, the 2007 world champion, out-sprinted American Matt Reed and South African Hendrik DeVilliers for his first world cup title in a thrilling finish.

2008 Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Men - Unofficial Results
Gold - Unger, Daniel (GER) 1:52:49
Silver - Reed, Matt (USA) 1:52:50
Bronze - DeVilliers, Hendrik (RSA) 1:52:50
4th - Jones, Kyle (Oakville, ON) 1:53:00
18th - McMahon, Brent (Victoria, BC) 1:54:41

Click here for full field results

This was the 199th world cup in ITU's history. The historic 200th world cup will be on May 25 in Madrid.

The 20th edition of the triathlon world championships is coming to Vancouver from June 5-8. It is the final event in ITU's 2-year Olympic qualification period and the final selection race for the Canadian Olympic team.

Vancouver, Canada (May 2, 2008) - The organizing committee for the 2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships is proud to announce a new partnership with Haywood Securities Inc. Committed to supporting Canadian amateur sports while inspiring its employees, the company has stepped up to become the presenting sponsor for the triathlon world championships.

"Haywood's sponsorship of the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships is not meant to benefit our bottom line; we provide support to Canadian athletics because we believe it's rewarding and inspiring for Canadians to see our Canadian athletes striving and making sacrifices in the pursuit of excellence," said Rob Blanchard, President of Haywood Securities Inc.

In addition to hefty financial support, Haywood Securities Inc. has also committed to enter several teams in the Corporate Challenge, an event designed to promote active living in the workplace. Participants in the Corporate Challenge have the opportunity to train with two-time Olympian Carol Montgomery.

"We believe it's important for Canada to have a vibrant and prosperous sport system that can help engage Canadians in an active and healthy lifestyle. It is part community responsibility and part Haywood culture that promotes keeping fit," said Blanchard.

Haywood Securities Inc. is no stranger to supporting Canadian Olympic sports as the company has also been a loyal sponsor of the National Cross-Country Ski Team.

The Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships will take place on June 5-8 in English Bay and Stanley Park and will attract approximately 3,000 athletes from 45 countries. It will be the final Olympic qualifier for the Canadian Olympic team. Several Canadian Olympic hopefuls are in South Africa for this Sunday's BG Triathlon World Cup race.

Tongyeong, South Korea (April 26, 2008) - Former junior triathlon world champion, Kirsten Sweetland of Victoria is one step closer to her Olympic dreams after a top-8 performance at today's BG Triathlon World Cup in Tongyeong, South Korea. The 19-year old Sweetland finished fifth in a strong international field. If she earns a top-8 finish at the world championships in Vancouver on June 8, she'll earn herself a spot on the start line in Beijing.

Four other Canadians raced today, all with top-20 performances. Lauren Groves of Vancouver, who has already been nominated for Canada's Olympic team finished 13th; Edmonton's Paul Tichelaar finished sixth in the men's event, his fourth top-10 finish in a row; Brent McMahon of Victoria and Kyle Jones of Oakville managed to finish 16th and 20th respectively.

In the women's event, New Zealand's Beijing-bound Samantha Warriner claimed her sixth world cup title, utilizing her running speed to cruise to gold with a time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 49 seconds. Nine seconds back in second place was Hollie Avil of Great Britain, who's 19 years Warriner's junior. In third, following a strong finish to 2007 was Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic.

In the men's event, 2006 Triathlon World Champion, Tim Don of Great Britain, ran away from the competition over the final stages of the race to claim the fifth world cup win of his career in a time of 1 hour 38 minutes and 14 seconds. In second position, only six seconds behind, Athens Olympic silver medalist Bevan Docherty of New Zealand out-sprinted Germany's Jan Frodeno in a photo finish result.

2008 Tongyeong BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Women - Official Results
1.5km swim, 37.5km bike, 10km run
Gold - Samantha Warriner (NZL) 1:49:49
Silver - Hollie Avil (GBR) 1:49:59
Bronze - Vendula Frintova (CZE) 1:50:21
5 - Kirsten Sweetland (Victoria, BC) 1:51:06
13 - Lauren Groves (Vancouver, BC) 1:52:24

2008 Tongyeong BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Men - Official Results
1.5km swim, 37.5km bike, 10km run
Gold - Tim Don (GBR) 1:38:14
Silver - Bevan Docherty (NZL) 1:38:22
Bronze - Jan Frodeno (GER) 1:38:23
6 - Paul Tichelaar (Edmonton, AB) 1:38:40
16 - Brent McMahon (Victoria, BC) 1:39:31
20 - Kyle Jones (Oakville, ON) 1:39:48

Click here for full results

Ishigaki, Japan (April 13, 2008) - Sydney Olympic Champion Simon Whitfield of Canada continues his quest for another Olympic title with a win at the Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup today. Whitfield showed a field of top Olympians that he still has kick in his legs to claim his 11th world cup title, in a time of 1 hour 51 minutes and 12 seconds. Kathy Tremblay from Montreal, Quebec managed a fifth place finish in the women's event to complete the first Canadian Olympic qualification requirement for Beijing, a top-8 finish at a World Cup. She will also need a top-8 finish at the BG Triathlon World Championships to be held in Vancouver in June.

"That was good, a great way to start the year. I've been coming here for 12 years and never been close to the podium," said Whitfield after his win, which ties him for second all-time world cup wins with Kiwi and fellow Olympic gold medalist Hamish Carter. "When I was running along I was thinking 'Come on, this might be my last time here so I have to win this thing'. It's my first win in Japan so it's a thrill, never done that."

The tiny fishing Island of Ishigaki is located in the southern most islands of Japan. Under cloudy skies temperatures were in the high 20's for the start of the races. Whitfield would use his new found swim strength to sit in the front group the entire day, timing a breakaway in the closing stages of the run for a decisive win. Many of the top contenders, including three-time world champion Peter Robertson of Australia looked strong but none were able to match Whitfield as he made his first world cup win of 2008 look easy with a 31:42 run split.

Tremblay had a tougher time with her placing, battling some of the sport's top women including three-time world champion Emma Snowsill of Australia and junior world champion Hollie Avil of Great Britain to make the top-5 and get the important pre-qualification.

The only other Canadian competing was Colin Jenkins of Hamilton, Ontario, who finished in 23rd place. Olympic qualification ends on June 8th at the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships with the final two Canadian men and women Olympic spots being selected.

2008 Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Men - Unofficial Results
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Gold - Simon Whitfield (CAN) 1:51:12
Silver - Rasmus Henning (DEN) 1:51:22 +:10
Bronze - Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) 1:51:33 +:21
23 - Colin Jenkins (CAN) 1:53:05 +1:53
Click here for full Men's race recap

2008 Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Women - Unofficial Results
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Gold - Emma Snowsill (AUS) 2:03:11
Silver - Erin Densham (AUS) 2:03:40 +:29
Bronze - Hollie Avil (GBR) 2:05:25 +2:14
5 - Kathy Tremblay (CAN) 2:05:57 +2:46
Click here for full Women's race recap

(April 4, 2008) - Following unanimous approval from Vancouver City Council yesterday and the Park Board on Monday, the Triathlon Vancouver Organizing Committee (TVOC) today unveiled the courses for the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships for the first time at Prospect Point. Philip Davis, Vice-President of TVOC and Director of Operations, explained the routes for the five courses that run through some of Vancouver's most picturesque areas (click links to download a PDF of each map):

  - Elite and Under23 (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
  - Junior (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
  - Corporate Challenge (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
  - Athletes with a Disability (AWAD) & Age-group Olympic distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
  - Age-group sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)

The heart of the event will be English Bay where finish line for all races will be. English Bay will be a prime location for people to watch the elite swim, transition, run, bike and finish all at English Bay. Details on exact road closures will be released shortly.

Lorne Mayencourt, MLA for Vancouver-Burrard:
"I was in Hamburg last year (for the World Championships) and I watched Hamburg open its door to triathlon and the world. We can do this. Triathlon started here in Vancouver and ITU started here. It is a group of people coming home."

Suzanne Anton, Vancouver City Councillor:
"It is a credit to our city to have an event like this with so many more events to come, building up to the 2010 Olympics. It is great for Vancouver. Triathlon is the most accessible of sports; anybody can jump in a pool for a swim, jump on a bike or go for a run, that's triathlon."

The World Championships will take place on June 5-8 in English Bay and Stanley Park and will attract approximately 3,000 athletes from 45 countries. It will be the final Olympic qualifier for the Canadian Olympic team. Several of the Olympic hopefuls are in New Zealand for this Sunday's BG Triathlon World Cup race. Simon Whitfield (Victoria, BC) opens his 2008 season at the Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup in Japan on April 13.

For more information contact info@triathlonvancouver.com

(April 3, 2008) - Following Monday's unanimous Park Board approval, Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the courses for the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships. The event is set to take place on June 5-8 in English Bay and Stanley Park and will attract approximately 3,000 athletes from 45 countries. It will be the final Olympic qualifier for the Canadian Olympic team. In addition to elite athletes, the event features categories for Athletes with a Disability (AWAD), age-group Olympic and sprint distance, a kids triathlon and a Corporate Challenge. Traffic plans and road closures will be finalized and announced soon.

For more information contact info@triathlonvancouver.com

We have had a couple of inquiries from age-groupers competitors about the $300 entry fee for the Triathlon Vancouver World Championships because there was a resolution passed at the 2006 ITU Congress that stated, "world championship entry fees will not exceed $200 USD". The background information is that the Triathlon Vancouver Organizing Committee (TVOC) applied to ITU to waive the resolution because of the huge impact that the decline of the U.S. dollar has had on the Canadian dollar.

A year ago ITU switched its currency to the Euro because of the decline in the dollar and the Executive Board's sense was that the $300 CAD entry fee is within the 200 Euros, which was closer to the U.S. dollar in 2006.

As well, the cost of road closures, traffic control and policing in Vancouver is much higher than any other city in the world where ITU has had events. Their conditions for safety are also very high, which makes the cost of staging the event very high.

We are making history in Vancouver with three days of competition in Stanley Park and the closure of Beach Avenue at Morten's Triangle for a week. We are working very closely with all of the stakeholders in the Park to ensure that when the event is over everyone will feel satisfied with the experience and they will look forward to using this venue for many years to come.

TVOC would like be extremely clear about the event expenses connected with the entry fee in that not one penny of the age group entry fee is going to finance the prize money for the elite athletes. TVOC will ensure that every penny of age-group entry fees goes to the experience of each and every competitor. This includes:

• a very safe event on one of the most spectacular venues in the world - English Bay and Stanley Park
• an opening ceremony, parade of nations on Beach Avenue / English Bay
• an opening ceremony meal at the Vancouver Aquarium which will be an experience that will add a signature to the World Championships
• a closing ceremony and award banquet that will try to match the fun-filled experience in Hamburg.

TVOC is confident the competitors will feel that they got very good value for their money on Monday, June 9th.

"We were glad to get such positive feedback from the community. It shows that they are excited about the opportunities it will bring them and bodes well for the Championships,” said Barnett.

On Wednesday night, Feb. 27th, the West End residents of downtown Vancouver came out to show their support and learn more about the exciting Triathlon World Championships that will be coming to their streets this June. The meeting started off with a presentation by Loreen Barnett, Executive Director of the International Triathlon Union, discussing the opportunities an event like this will bring to the West End, as well as the sustainability of a sport like triathlon, with it's lack of environmentally and economically negative footprint.

"We were glad to get such positive feedback from the community. It shows that they are excited about the opportunities it will bring them and bodes well for the Championships," said Barnett.

The night went on to an open forum lead by Muriel Honey, Manager, Film & Special Events Office for the City of Vancouver, where the community voiced questions and overall expressed a want to volunteer and truly be a part of this special event.

From June 5 - 8, 2008, the West End will host the 2008 Vancouver Triathlon World Championships. West End residents are invited to a meeting:

Wednesday, February 27 at 7pm
West End Community Centre
870 Denman Street, Vancouver

Learn more about the 2008 World Championships event, and about the road closures associated with it.

Approximately 3,000 competitors from around the world are expected to compete in the swim, bike, run events from Thursday through Sunday, June 5 to 8, in English Bay, Stanley Park and on Beach, Thurlow and Davie Streets.

Representatives from the International Triathlon Union, the local organizing committee, the City of Vancouver Special Events Office and the Park Board will be on hand to discuss impacts of the event on West End residents, and to answer questions.

The 2008 Vancouver Triathlon World Championships is the final qualifying event for the Beijing Olympics. Triathletes from over 40 countries will be coming to Vancouver to compete, and the event will be broadcast internationally.

FOR GENERAL INFORMATION:
City of Vancouver
Special Events Office
604-871-6260

(February 26, 2008) - Exactly 100 days until the start of the Vancouver Triathlon World Championships as the 20th anniversary of ITU's flagship event will take place on June 5-8 at English Bay.

The event will be the final Olympic qualifier for Canadians to earn selection to the Beijing Olympic team.

Four Olympic spots (two men and two women) will be at stake for Canada's best triathletes in Vancouver in June. Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist Simon Whtifield (Victoria, BC) and Lauren Groves (Vancouver, BC) have already earned nominations to the Olympic team after their performances at last year's World Championships in Hamburg and the Olympic test event in Beijing. Both will be racing in Vancouver vying for a coveted world title while using the event as preparation for Beijing.

"June is a fantastic date for us. It gives us something through the winter which keeps the structure there and keeps the discipline there," said Whitfield. We're always building as an athlete so we're trying to be as prepared as we can be. If you look back on Olympic years and Olympic success, the people who have done well have been fit in June."

The competition will be fierce with no fewer than four men and four women vying for the two last remaining spots. A number of B.C. athletes will be gunning for Olympic berths including Kirsten Sweetland (Victoria, B.C.), the 2006 Junior World Champion, Jill Savege (Penticton, B.C.), Olympian from 2004, and Brent McMahon (Victoria, B.C.) also an Olympian from 2004 and silver medalist from last year's Pan American Games. Also in the mix are the 2007 Canadian National Champions Paul Tichelaar (Edmonton, AB) and Kathy Tremblay (Montreal, QC), as well as Carolyn Murray (Edmonton, AB), Colin Jenkins (Hamilton, ON) and Kyle Jones (Oakville, ON).

A strong international contingent is expected to flock to Vancouver for the world championships. Many of the world's best have included Vancouver as part of their seasons, such as reigning world champion Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal, who was recently named as one of Sports Illustrated's female athletes of the year, Athens 2004 Olympic silver medalist Bevan Docherty of New Zealand, and Samantha Warriner also of New Zealand who won the Vancouver world cup last year. Also expected is the accomplished husband and wife team of Greg and Laura Bennett. Greg finished fourth at the Athens Olympics and is eyeing a spot on the Australian Olympic team for Beijing. His wife Laura has already been selected to the U.S. Olympic team as the top American at the Olympic test event last September.

The 2008 Triathlon World Championships will be the final event in ITU's 24-month Olympic qualification period which began on May 1, 2006. The event features a $250,000 USD prize purse equal for elite men and women. An estimated 2600 athletes from 45 countries will be competing in elite, junior, under23, age-group and athletes with a disability (AWAD) categories.

For more information contact media@triathlonvancouver.com

(February 6, 2008) - Due to unforeseen issues regarding road closures and tide schedules with the swim venue, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships has been forced to alter the previously published provisional event schedule.

The LOC apologizes for any inconvenience this change has caused athletes, coaches and National Federations. However, this was an unavoidable change and had to be made to ensure a safe and fair world championship for all. Please see below for the updated provisional race schedule:

Thursday June 5th, 2008
Junior Women – 7:00am
Junior Men – 9:00am
Junior Medal Ceremonies – 10:30am

Friday June 6th, 2008
Age-Group Sprint Distance – first wave at 6:30am

Saturday June 7th, 2008
Corporate Challenge – 6:30am
Age-Group Olympic Distance & AWAD – first wave at 6:45am

Sunday June 8th, 2008
Under23 Women – 7:00am
Under23 Men – 10:00am
Elite Women – 1:00pm
Elite Men - 4:00pm
Under23 & Elite Medal Ceremonies – 6:15pm

The latest provisional event schedule will be published here shortly.

For questions and more information, please contact: info@triathlonvancouver.com

(February 4, 2008) - Olympic Gold Medalist Simon Whitfield was in Vancouver this afternoon to officially launch the 2008 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships. The event will take place from June 6th to 8th and will be the final Olympic qualifying race for the Canadian Triathlon Olympic team.

"It's a thrill to be in Vancouver and it's exciting to feel the momentum building towards this World Championships here in Vancouver, especially against such a fantastic backdrop of this city," said Whitfield.

Last year's second ranked triathlete in the world spoke about the home crowd support that will hopefully propel him to victory in June, which would make him the first triathlete to win both Olympic and World Championship gold.

"Certainly it's a huge advantage (to race at home), especially with the familiarity of the city of Vancouver and the weather," said Whitfield. "Of my nine World Cup wins, I've won a lot of them in Canada so it definitely helps to race in front of the home crowd."

Whitfield was in town with his wife Jennie and their 7-month old daughter, Pippa Kathryn. As a new father he admitted he's a much different athlete now than at the past two Olympics in Sydney and Athens.

"I get a lot less sleep now with Pippa," joked Whitfield. "My training day usually starts with watching her trying to crawl. In Sydney I was a wide-eyed kid standing at the start line thinking, 'I can't believe I'm here'. In Athens, I felt like I was a man on a mission, that was my motto but that's just not me, I don't operate within serious guidelines. I need to have a little fun with it, be a little more relaxed and that's the attitude I'll take to Beijing and Vancouver," said Whitfield.

The two-time Olympian is coming off one of his most successful seasons ever with three BG Triathlon World Cup titles and his best ever performance at a World Championships, fourth in Hamburg, Germany. He will open his 2008 season in at the Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup in Australia on March 30, then head to the New Plymouth BG Triathlon World Cup in New Zealand on April 6. On June 6-8, thousands of Canadians will have the opportunity watch Whitfield compete in Vancouver for the one major prize that has eluded him, the Triathlon World Championships.

For more information contact media@triathlonvancouver.com