Australian triathlete Erin Densham stunned the pundits earlier this year by destroying the fields at the Mooloolaba World Cup in March and at the World Triathlon Series event in Sydney in mid-April—and she put the Australian Olympic selection committee in a bind in the process.

Prior to those two wins, it was widely thought that the selectors would choose reigning Olympic champion Emma Snowsill and rising young star Emma Jackson for the remaining two spots on the team, for which Beijing bronze medalist Emma Moffatt had already been selected.

Indeed, prior to Mooloolaba, few were thinking about Densham, who has struggled since the 2008 Beijing Olympics with injuries, illness and heart surgery.

But Densham’s wins over many of the best triathletes in the world in Mooloolaba and Sydney have shown that, if given the chance, she is capable of winning a medal in London.

Densham caught up with Inside Triathlon editor-in-chief Courtney Baird recently to fill us in on what’s been going on.
 
Trathlete.com: Congrats on your great wins in Mooloolaba and Sydney. Can you give us an idea of what the last few years have been like for you and what journey you went on to achieve those results?

Erin Densham: The last few years have been a roller coaster ride of glandular fever, SVT (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) and then a subsequent operation for that in December 2009. Throw into that a hamstring tendinopathy, which had me on limited running, then eventually it got to the point where I had four months off running completely at the end of 2010. Once again it was a slow build into 2011. My opening races weren’t quite the results I was after. But after a while things seemed to be on the right track—until I found out I had a stress reaction on my tibia, which put me out for all the major races at the end of 2011. But that allowed me to race Xterra World Champs, which was an incredibly awesome experience. Plus it also allowed me to start my base work much earlier. So since then it has just been about getting the work done day after day, week after week, which has led me to where I am now.

Triathlete.com: Were you at all surprised by your recent results?
ED: Yes and no. I knew that my training had been going well. But then again the start of the year brings the unknown. You don’t know how all the work you have done fairs to the rest of the world, or where the other girls in the field are at. So at the moment I guess I can take it that things are going well. But I know there is still more there, so that’s an exciting prospect and a great position to be in.

PHOTOS: 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series Sydney

Triathlete.com: I’ve read that you had heart surgery shortly after Beijing. What exactly happened and is everything OK now?

ED: I first felt my racing heart rate when I was 12 years old. I had it looked at, but because it happened so randomly the doctors were never able to catch it and diagnose it properly. So judging by what I told them, they guessed it was SVT, which is basically a racing of the heart rate. I was told by the doctors that if it starts affecting my day-to-day life and livelihood, then I should undergo the operation. So I figured that when I had to get rescued in the swim in one race and taken to hospital in another, I knew it was time to get something done about it. The period before the operation was the hardest physically, mentally and emotionally. But I had incredible support from my partner, who was always there for me and basically got me through this whole thing.

The operation itself was—daunting. I was awake while they inserted catheters through the femoral artery beside my groin—all the way up to my heart. From there, they pumped me with adrenaline to actually set off the tachycardia. They had to actually diagnose it properly because until this point, the doctors were just speculating on my condition. So there I was in the operating room with my heart rate at 270 and the doctor clapping and cheering as now it was finally diagnosed. From there I was put to sleep and they performed the ablation.

It was a long and slow road back—initially to let the wound beside my groin heal. After that, training began slowly—mostly because I had to gain confidence again that my heart was fixed and all was OK. My trust with that grew over time—a long time. But my heart is OK and it has been since the operation. So it’s no longer a concern.

Triathlete.com: You are one of many talented Australian triathletes who are candidates for the 2012 Olympic team. Do you know when you’ll hear whether you’ve made the team?

ED: Not as yet. We were told by the selectors earlier in the year that they wanted to finalize the team after Sydney—only to be told a week later (after the resignation of the head selector and information on where the process was at) that they’re now going to have to wait until the end of May to nominate the team, finalizing at the start of June. So I guess that means we have to keep racing to earn our spot, and that means San Diego and Madrid come into play, which doesn’t affect me at all because I knew the selection agreement states that the team is only finalized at the end of this period. So these races were always in my race schedule.

Triathlete.com: If you do make the Olympic team, what are your goals for the year?

ED: Winning Olympic gold and winning the World Series. Of course, winning Olympic gold would be a bit hard to do if I’m not on the start line.

Triathlete.com: If you don’t make the Olympic team, what are your goals for the year?

ED: Win the World Series. Make some money. Plus I’d love to win Xterra World Champs.
 
Triathlete.com: You’ve had such stellar early results this season. How will you avoid fading at the end of the season, which can happen at times to athletes?

ED: I had some time off after Sydney, which will give my body a bit of a break that it needs. Also after the last few years I believe I am pretty good at reading my body and how it feels. If something doesn’t feel right, I feel I have the confidence to make a decision and adjust my sessions accordingly, which subsequently should keep injuries at bay and avoid my fading at the end of the season. Plus a smart and realistic competition schedule always helps.

Triathlete.com: What’s on tap for you next? Will you be here in San Diego?

ED: Now that the selection process has been extended, it means that yes, I will be in San Diego and then also Madrid. After that—who knows. Planning is difficult when you are stepping into the unknown. But basically there are two plans: an Olympic plan and a non-Olympic plan. They are fairly similar. Just that one has a race in London—the other one doesn’t.

Triathlete.com: And finally, just because you’re Australian, what are your thoughts on Macca making a comeback to the ITU? Were you at any of the European training camps he attended last year?

ED: I think it’s a win/win situation for Macca. He has a very credible racing reputation and is a great guy also. I wasn’t on any of the European camps that he attended but just going off when we get together at races he is always full of great stories and laughs, which brings a new lease of life into an already uncomfortable and far from ideal Triathlon Australia High Performance environment.

Triathlete.com: Thanks Erin. Congrats again on your recent success.

More than 80 pros raced the 29^th annual St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Fla., vying for a piece of the $65,000 prize purse. Now in its second year as a part of WTC’s 5i50 series, St. Anthony’s also awards points for qualification toward the 5i50 U.S. Championship in Des Moines, Iowa. Those points, combined with the prize purse, led to an impressive turnout of professional triathletes.

The winners from 2011, Filip Ospaly and Sarah Haskins, were back to defend their titles. Olympian Greg Bennett; 2010 St. Anthony’s winner Cameron Dye; and this year’s 70.3 Texas and San Juan champion, Timothy O’Donnell, were all on hand to challenge Ospaly. On the women’s side, 2010 Ironman world champ Mirinda Carfrae, three-time Ironman champion Mary Beth Ellis and Annabel Luxford contended for the win.

The Olympic-distance race’s course along downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront is fast and flat, drawing 3,500 total competitors total to the scenic event.

PHOTOS: 2012 St. Anthony’s Triathlon

Men’s Race

It was already over 75 degrees outside when the pro men plunged into Tampa Bay for the swim. No one could compete with Australian super swimmer Joshua Amberger. He exited the water first in 18 minutes flat. But Ben Collins and Cameron Dye weren’t about to let the 23-year old get away. The three men stayed close together on the bike and entered T2 together, so it all came down to the run. Returning champion Ospaly whipped through the 10K in 31:07 to take his second St. Anthony’s title, crossing the finish line in 1:45:50—just nine seconds in front of second place finisher Ben Collins. Timothy O’Donnell rounded out the podium, while Amberger dropped back to fourth.

Women’s Race

Swimming phenom Sara McLarty exited the water first in a blazing fast 19:10. But Sarah Haskins was hot on her heels, only three seconds back. Alicia Kaye clawed her way to the front on the bike, posting the fastest 40K bike split of the day in 58:44. But she was no match for the returning champion on the run. Sarah Haskins bested Kaye’s 10K time by more than two minutes, running a 35:51 to win her fourth consecutive St. Anthony’s title in 1:56:55. Kaye and British triathlete Jodie Stimpson rounded out the podium.

St. Anthony’s Triathlon
St. Petersburg, Fla. – April 29, 2012
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run

Men
1. Filip Ospaly 1:45:50
2. Ben Collins 1:45:59
3. Tim O’Donnell 1:46:04
4. Joshua Amberger 1:46:20
5. Cameron Dye 1:47:01
6. Terenzo Bozzone 1:47:16
7. Stuart Hayes 1:47:22
8. Kaleb Vanort 1:47:30
9. Paul Matthews 1:47:43
10. Chris Foster 1:47:47

Women
1. Sarah Haskins 1:56:55
2. Alicia Kaye 1:59:16
3. Jodie Stimpson 1:59:37
4. Annabel Luxford 2:00:07
5. Kelly Williamson 2:00:13
6. Angela Naeth 2:00:19
7. Jillian Petersen 2:00:48
8. Nikki Butterfield 2:01:35
9. Mirinda Carfrae 2:02:02
10. Radka Vodickova 2:02:16

Photos by Greg Beadle.

The May/June issue of Inside Triathlon magazine features an extensive travel story on Stellenbosch, South Africa, that talks about why the region is quickly becoming a travel destination of choice for triathletes. Pick up an issue on newsstands today, or purchase a digital copy here.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the May/June Inside Triathlon cover shoot featuring Olympic hopefuls Matt Chrabot and Jarrod Shoemaker. The shoot was done in the Inside Triathlon studios in San Diego, Calif. and on the beach in Coronado, Calif. Learn more about the issue or purchase the digital version now.

Want to learn how to race faster by training less? Want to discover the world’s best spot to train?

Pick up the May/June issue of Inside Triathlon magazine, on newsstands now, to find out how to race your best with limited training time, what city triathletes are flocking to for extended training camps, why you’re probably training too hard on your easy days and training too easy on your hard days, and much more.

The May/June issue also delves into the Lance Armstrong factor, asking Kona greats Dave Scott and Chris McCormack how they would advise Lance for the Ironman World Championships this fall, and it outlines why Lance is a better runner than you think. (We asked one of his early triathlon coaches what Armstrong was like as a young triathlete—and he was one fast runner.)

The issue’s cover models, American ITU athletes Jarrod Shoemaker and Matt Chrabot, also headline Inside Triathlon’s preview of the U.S. Olympic Trials, which will be held on May 11 and 12 in San Diego. Shoemaker and Chrabot have earned the United States the right to send two men to the Olympics in triathlon by traveling around the world, sacrificing non-drafting and sponsorship opportunities at home in the process. Now, they must fight for an individual spot on the team.

Pick up the May/June issue of Inside Triathlon today for these stories and more. Or, purchase the digital edition right now!

Also, follow Inside Triathlon on Twitter and Facebook.

Germany’s Steffen Justus surprised at the Sydney leg of World Triathlon Series today by running away from the field and winning in dominating fashion.

South Africa’s Richard Murray, who comes from a duathlon background, had a career breakthrough performance by finishing second over France’s Laurent Vidal, who is coming off of a recent win at the Mooloolaba World Cup.

“For me it was phenomenal,” Justus told an ITU reporter after the race.

In Olympic qualification news, Russia’s Ivan Vasiliev put together a heroic and near career best performance by finishing sixth overall. It was a feat he accomplished by virtually time trialing the entire bike leg and entering T2 with more than a minute lead. The finish will go far in terms of securing Russia three country spots.

The Canadian team also raced well in terms of its bid to secure three country spots to London, as Kyle Jones finished 13th, Simon Whitfield finished 18th and Brent McMahon finished 20th.

In terms of individual qualification, Kiwi Kris Gemmell punched his ticket to London by finishing seventh, as Triathlon New Zealand had stated before the race that the first Kiwi across the line, provided he finished in the top eight, would automatically qualify for London.

American Jarrod Shoemaker put together a performance that was reminiscent of his 2010 form, as he finished 10th overall, bolstering his bid for Olympic selection if the U.S. men’s Olympic qualification process comes down to discretion.

The other two American men in the race, Manny Huerta and Matt Chrabot, had disappointing performances; Huerta finished 42nd and Chrabot finished 48th.

The race started off with Dmitry Polyanksy leading a group of Russians out of the water, and although the Russians began pushing the pace on the bike, the field immediately merged into a huge pack of about 50 riders.

Vasiliev didn’t wait long to make his break, which he made with New Zealand’s James Elvery riding on his wheel for the most of it, as it was clear Elvery could barely hold on to the Russian’s blistering pace.

Vasiliev was able to keep his lead until about midway into the run, when Murray, Justus and Vidal barreled down on him.

At this point in the race, Justus slowly began to pull away from the pack, growing his lead until the finish line.

In Chris McCormack news, about midway into the bike the two-time Ironman world champ, who had a poor swim and missed the main bike pack but was able to bridge up, attempted a breakaway with an athlete from the Netherlands, but he was unable to keep any kind of lead. He eventually finished 34th.

1.         STEFFEN JUSTUS      GER     01:51:04
2.         RICHARD MURRAY    RSA     + 00:07
3.         LAURENT VIDAL        FRA     + 00:10
4.         DAVID HAUSS            FRA     + 00:24
5.         ALEXANDER BRYUKHANKOV          RUS     + 00:26
6.         IVAN VASILIEV          RUS     + 00:29
7.         KRIS GEMMELL         NZL     + 00:37
8.         WILLIAM CLARKE     GBR     + 00:38
9.         DMITRY POLYANSKY           RUS     + 00:43
10.       JARROD SHOEMAKER           USA     + 00:46
42.       MANUEL HUERTA     USA     + 02:53
48.       MATT CHRABOT        USA     + 03:43

Australian athlete Erin Densham won the World Triathlon Series race in Sydney today with a dominating run, putting the Australian Olympic selectors in a bit of a predicament in the process.

British athlete and reigning world champion Helen Jenkins finished second, and 2011 Grand Final winner Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand placed third.

Densham, who spent the better part of the last few years recovering from a heart problem and racing below her potential, is coming off of a win at the Mooloolaba World Cup three weeks ago, when she again dominated the field with a scintillating run.

With Densham’s win and comeback from illness, the Australian selectors now have three top Australian women to fill the remaining two Olympic spots. (Two-time world champion Emma Moffatt, who placed 13th today, has already been preselected.)

Prior to Mooloolaba and today, it was widely believed that the Australian Olympic selectors would choose reigning Olympic champion Emma Snowsill, who finished 14th today, and Emma Jackson, who finished 33rd today, for the remaining two spots.

Densham brushed off the topic of Olympic selection, however, when ITU reporter Barrie Shepley asked her about it.

“Today was just all about focusing on my race. Nothing external was going on,” she said.

The race started off with Japanese athlete Mariko Adachi coming first out of the water in 19:07; the first pack of swimmers was about 30 seconds behind her.

She was quickly joined by a group of about 30 riders that included many of the race’s big hitters, such as Jenkins, Hewitt and Moffatt.

Pre-race favorites Snowsill, Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah Groff of the U.S., and Nicola Spirig of Switzerland rode behind the lead pack for a majority of the 40K bike leg, but their pack bridged up to the leaders with about 10K to go.

At the start of the run, Densham powered out of T2, setting a blistering pace, and a small pack of runners that included Jenkins, Spirig, Adachi, Hewitt, Moffatt and Spain’s Ainhoa Murua formed around her.

Slowly, runners began to drop off the pack, which was largely paced by Densham and Jenkins, and with 5K to go only Densham, Jenkins and Hewitt remained.

With about 2K to go, Hewitt began to slip off the pace, and with about 1K to go and after a hairpin turn, Densham asserted her authority, breaking Jenkins.

She crossed the line in 2:01:28, with Jenkins eight seconds behind.

In other notable performances, after a less-than-stellar transition out of T2, American Gwen Jorgensen ran through most of the field and finished fourth overall, 42 seconds behind Densham.

With Olympic qualification and country spots on the line, the ITU’s World Triathlon Series race in Sydney on Saturday will offer plenty of drama.

The Men

The absence of the sport’s big three—Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee of Great Britain and Javier Gomez of Spain—from Sydney this Saturday opens the race wide open, and any number of men could take the top podium spot.

Likely winners include France’s Laurent Vidal, who is coming off a win at the Mooloolaba World Cup, which featured a field similar to what will be racing in Sydney; Australia’s Brendan Sexton, who recently won the Oceania Championships; and Russian Alexander Brukhankov, who will likely be looking to finally earn gold at a World Triathlon Series event after four silvers and one bronze.

But there are more subtle prizes at stake in Sydney than medals—Olympic qualification and country spots.

For example, stellar performances by Americans Matt Chrabot and Jarrod Shoemaker will significantly increase their chances for Olympic qualification, as the U.S.’s qualification process may come down to discretion, depending on what happens at the World Triathlon Series race in San Diego in May, which is serving as the U.S.’s second and final Olympic trials.

Sexton could also increase his chances for Olympic qualification with a win or podium finish on Saturday, as Triathlon Australia has only named one man to its men’s Olympic team: Brad Kahlefeldt.

Additionally, Triathlon New Zealand has named Sydney an automatic Olympic qualification race and has said that the first Kiwi across the line, provided he comes in the top-eight overall, will punch his ticket to London.

The men fighting for this automatic spot include two-time Olympic medalist Bevan Docherty, who won in Sydney in 2010; Beijing Olympian and multiple World Cup winner Kris Gemmell; and Kiwis Ryan Sissons, Tony Dodds, Martin Van Barneveld, Clark Ellice and James Elvery.

In terms of country spots, under the ITU’s arcane Olympic qualification system eight countries can qualify three men to the Olympics, and the remaining countries can only qualify two, one or zero athletes. Men obtain these country spots essentially by earning points at races, with the last race eligible for points being the World Triathlon Series race in Madrid in late May.

Right now, Great Britain, Germany, France and Spain have virtually secured their three country spots. But six countries—Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Portugal, Russia, and the U.S.—are still battling to be one of the remaining four countries to send the maximum of three athletes to London. (As it stands right now, Russia and the U.S. are the odd countries out with only two country spots.)

Look for action among the men of these countries, especially the Kiwis—Gemmell, Docherty and Ryan Sissons—the Canadians—Whitfield, Kyle Jones and Brent McMahon—Ivan Vasiliev of Russia and the U.S.’s Manny Huerta. All of these men are ranked close to each other, and each country’s third-ranked man is the man who earns the third country spot.

It’s also worth noting that Australia’s third-ranked man, Courtney Atkinson, is not slated to start.

RELATED – Olympic Medal Favorites: The Men

The Women

While the men’s Sydney race is missing the “big three,” the women’s field on Saturday is about as deep as it can get.

The field includes Beijing Grand Final winner Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand, two-time world champion Emma Moffatt of Australia, reigning world champion Helen Jenkins of Great Britain, 2011 sprint world championships runner up Emma Jackson of Australia, 2011 sprint world champion Barbara Riveros Diaz of Chile, 2011 Hy-Vee Triathlon winner Lisa Norden of Sweden, multiple World Triathlon Series podium finisher Nicola Spirig of Switzerland, 2011 World Triathlon Series overall bronze medalist Sarah Groff of the U.S., London Olympic test event silver medalist Gwen Jorgensen of the U.S., four-time world championship podium finisher Laura Bennett of the U.S., and many other top women.

The only notable athlete who isn’t on the start list is Canada’s Paula Findlay, who pulled out recently due to a hip injury that has plagued her since mid-season last year.

Like with the men’s race, there are prizes other than podium spots up for grabs for the women, including individual Olympic spots for Australia’s women’s team.

Australia is one of the deepest countries in the world in terms of its women triathletes, and with two-time world champion Emma Moffatt being the only woman who has be pre-selected for London, there are five women who have a legitimate shot at filling the remaining two spots.

These women are reigning Olympic champion Emma Snowsill; Emma Jackson, who was the top-ranked Australian woman last year; Beijing Olympian Erin Densham, who annihilated the field at the Mooloolaba World Cup two weeks ago; 2011 Edmonton World Cup winner Ashleigh Gentle; and former world No. 1 Felicity Abram. They are all slated to race on Saturday.

Snowsill remarked to Australia’s newspaper the Herald Sun recently that she has been told she has to win Sydney to qualify for London. While Snowsill’s results have been spotty of late, she’s entirely capable of pulling this off—and she’s entirely capable of pulling off gold in London in August if she gets a start.

Like the Kiwi men, the Kiwi women will be competing for an automatic individual Olympic spot in Sydney, according to the ITU. While Hewitt has already qualified, top New Zealand athletes Kate McIlroy, Debbie Tanner and Nicky Samuels are all competing for the remaining two spots.

RELATED – Olympic Medal Favorites: The Women

The men’s ITU circuit has been top-heavy over the past three years with British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee and Javier Gomez of Spain dominating. That being said, given the anything-can-happen nature of the Olympics, there’s no guarantee that the Brownlees or Gomez will end up on the podium. (Who would have guessed that Jan Frodeno of Germany would win in Beijing in 2008—he had never won a major event before in his life.)

With London being a flat runner’s course, and with Olympic triathlons often turning into tactical affairs, some believe that the 2012 gold medalist will be the fastest sprinter (Jonathan is the reigning world sprint champ). But Alistair proved at the London Olympic test event last year that a breakaway on the bike is possible despite London’s flat course, which gives the sport’s super cyclists an opportunity to steal a podium spot. And it’s unlikely that the Brownlees will let the race unfold via tactics, as they’re known for going balls-to-the-wall from the gun.

Given this, you can bet that the 2012 London Olympic triathlon will be an event to behold. Here are just a few of the men who have a shot at a medal.

RELATED – Olympic Medal Favorites: The Women

While the men’s ITU circuit is top-heavy with the Brownlee brothers and Javier Gomez dominating, the women’s circuit is the Wild Wild West in that any woman can win on any given day. Indeed, when Paula Findlay of Canada endured a hip injury after the 2011 World Triathlon Series event in Kitzbühel, Austria, four different women won the remaining four ITU World Triathlon Series events.

With London being a flat and fast runner’s course, and with tactics often playing a big part in all endurance sports at the Olympics, it’s likely that the 2012 medalists will be the fastest runners with the best kicks. But there are enough strong swim-bikers in the women’s field to make a break possible, opening the door for an out-of-the-blue podium finisher.

Here are just a few of the women who could be standing on the podium come August.

RELATED: Complete 2012 London Olympics Coverage

Olympic gold and silver medalist Simon Whitfield probably knows better than anyone how to approach an Olympic year. Here, he updates Inside Triathlon editor-in-chief Courtney Baird on how his buildup to London is going.
 
Triathlete.com: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you’ve spent a good chunk of your winter down in New Zealand training? If this is true, how did that go?

Simon Whitfield: I absolutely loved the New Zealand experience on so many levels. The other athletes were great fun to be around and learn from. The terrain and setting are second to none—remarkable. I feel like one thing I’ve always been very good at is being open to learning from others—this was certainly the case with Laurent [Vidal], Andrea [Hewitt] and Kris [Gemmell] (amongst many). Being in New Zealand gave me this opportunity.

Triathlete.com: Overall, how has your training been coming along since the 2011 season ended?

SW: Strenuous. We’ve really pushed hard and taken some risks with the volume of training. So far, so good. We shall see how it all turns out. I had to take some risks or continue to get left behind.

Triathlete.com: Are you back in Victoria now? Or have you already headed over to Australia like many others in prep for Sydney?

SW: I’m down in Queenstown preparing for the season. I’ll race Sydney as a bit of a gauge as to where I’m at and how I’m adapting to the increased load.

Triathlete.com: What are your goals for Sydney?

SW: Gauge my progress and have a hit out. Obviously with Olympic points it’s important, but my focus is on London and Sydney is the first chance to see where we are.

Triathlete.com: You probably know better than any triathlete how to successfully approach an Olympic year. How are you going to approach this season as you attempt to win another Olympic medal?

SW: In other Olympic cycles I felt like I was a contender coming in, even in Sydney (although my coach and I were the only ones who felt that way). This year, really, let’s be honest, I’m 37 in a month, people have written me off, and for a while there I was starting to write myself off. But now, well, we shall see. If you’re a true “contender” at the top of the sport, the key is to not change things up, just stay the course and continue to do whatever has been making you successful. If you’re outside of that group then you need to work to close the gaps and be willing to take some risks.

PHOTOS: Simon Whitfield Goes After Fourth Olympic Berth

Triathlete.com: Is there anything that you’re specifically trying to improve so that you’re as ready as you can be for London?
 
SW: The Brownlees [Alistair and Jonathan] and Mr. Gomez [Javier] changed the game. They took the sport to a new level, they have no specific weaknesses, they are the fastest swimmers, they can ride at the front all day long and they are the best runners. I’m specifically working as hard as I can to be the same type of athlete, because otherwise, I lose.

Triathlete.com: Your longtime training partner Kyle Jones recently went to go work with Joel Filliol. What’s it been like now that you guys aren’t training together anymore?

SW: He’s dead to me. I’m kidding—I’m really happy for Kyle. It’s worked out really well for both of us. Kyle’s a bloody hard worker, always working, always on it. I admire that in him and wish him all the best-ish.

Triathlete.com: Have you ever thought about working with Joel again, given you guys had so much success together?

SW: Joel’s a terrific coach, one of the best in the sport, and I’m a big fan. But, no, not really. It didn’t excite me to work with him again. Besides, he has a great group—a great group of people who are pretty sick of having me around.

Triathlete.com: Are you still working with Jon Brown and Triathlon Canada as your primary coaches?

SW: Jon has gone above and beyond, made a lot of sacrifices for us, and he’s incredibly humble about his own accomplishments and his incredible experience. Maybe he needs to be more verbose, as I don’t really think he gets the respect he deserves. It’s incredible to think of his original job description (and compensation) and his responsibilities now—it’s been a huge learning process for him, and I think he now gets “front crawl” versus “freestyle.” But he’s done a remarkable job adapting, learning and applying what he knows. Aside from that, he’s absolutely petrifying to drive with.

Triathlete.com: Both Kyle and Brent McMahon have been doing an awesome job chasing points for Canada, and if they keep things up it looks like Canada will have three country spots for its men. What’s it been like watching these guys go out and accomplish this? 

SW: I guess, to me, it’s not about points and chasing spots. It’s all about performance. Improve yourself as an athlete, work your weaknesses and drive yourself to win the races everyone else wants to win: the championships. To me, it’s about winning. I couldn’t give a %#@^ about points—I want to compete at my best. This isn’t about qualifying and participating—it’s about getting the most out of yourself.

Triathlete.com: Thanks Simon. Best of luck to you this year.

RELATED: Simon Whitfield Talks Olympics With Bob Babbitt

RELATED: Simon Whitfield On Training, Longevity, And Balancing

More on the 2012 London Olympics.

Two-time ITU world champion Javier Gomez of Spain recently won the Nautica South Beach Triathlon in Florida by crushing the field. Here, he talks about his win and the upcoming London Olympics with Inside Triathlon magazine editor-in-chief Courtney Baird.
 
Triathlete.com: Hey Javi. Congrats on your dominating win in South Beach. How’d you feel out there, and how did the race go for you?

Javier Gomez: I felt good. I was pretty excited about this non-drafting race, as it is something different than what I usually do. It was my first race of the year and it went great. Good swim, stronger than I expected on bike and a solid run, but not 100 percent. I was second out of the water, and after a bad first transition I just focused to try to keep up when Cameron Dye, who is a very strong cyclist, caught me. And so I did. Then, after 4K of the run, I passed [Ben] Collins, who was leading, and I made a gap big enough to win the race while saving some energy on the run.

Triathlete.com: You’ve raced some non-draft events before and done really well in them—do you think you’ll do some more non-draft racing once the Olympics are over?

JG: I think the non-drafting races suit me very well—I feel comfortable on these races even though I’ve never worked specifically for them. So it’s an option in the near future, after the Olympics. But I’ll decide then.

PHOTOS: Javier Gomez

Triathlete.com: A lot of people think you’re the perfect athlete for a race like Kona. Do you ever think you’ll step up to Ironman?
 
JG: As I said, I like non-drafting. But the Ironman distance is something different—to be honest I have no idea about how would I perform there. The guys dominating right now are very strong. I would love to do more of Olympic non-drafting, 70.3— but step-by-step. Right now my focus is ITU and London 2012.

Triathlete.com: How has your training been going in preparation for London?
 
JG: It’s been going well. Lots of base training, good miles, very good gym workouts— no injuries yet, which is something very positive itself! I’m feeling good for this time of the year, but I know there is a lot of work ahead. Lots of quality sessions. There are four months until the Olympics—it’s a long way. The most important thing is to stay healthy and injury free.

Triathlete.com: You mentioned when I last saw you that you like to travel during your offseason break. Did you go anywhere fun this offseason?

JG: Oh yes, I spent a couple of weeks in Costa Rica, which was great. The country is absolutely beautiful, and the people are really kind and friendly. I had a great time exploring the volcanoes and the amazing beaches.

Triathlete.com: Since you’ve already been to one Olympics, will you approach this Olympics differently than you did in Beijing? Did you learn anything in Beijing that you think will help you this time around?
 
JG: Well, I’ll try to prepare myself the best I can, but not getting obsessed. I got injured a couple of months before Beijing and it was a tough time—definitely not the best way to prepare for such a big race. So, of course, I learned from that and just don’t want to make the same mistakes again. Unfortunately, you can always get injured anyway, but I will try to minimize the chances.

Triathlete.com: Being as you’re one of the medal favorites, what do you think it’s going to take to get on the podium in London?
 
JG: You need to have a great day, be fit, and smart during the race. And, of course, a bit lucky. Or not unlucky, at least. A one-day race is always complicated, but if you are in the best shape of your life, the chances to get the medal will be higher.

Triathlete.com: Other than the Brownlees, who are some of the other guys who you think could end up on the podium in London?
 
JG: There are so many. Obviously the Brownlees are the favorite ones, but guys like Frodeno, Vidal, Hauss, Docherty, Whitfield, Kahlefeldt, Riederer and many others are always very dangerous. So plenty of them!

RELATED VIDEO: Javier Gomez From Kona

Event company Ethos announced today that it will be hosting two multisport festivals in Temecula, Calif., this year in partnership with the SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation.

The company’s May 19 festival will include an 8K challenge race and a swim-run-swim-run Grand Prix-style multisport race, along with the opportunity to test your mettle on a replica of a Navy SEAL obstacle course, which is used to train Navy SEALs and during their famous hell week.

Ethos will also put together a kids-friendly obstacle course, Ethos said.

On September 22-23, Ethos plans to host a multisport festival that will include a triathlon, challenge races, and the opportunity to run the Navy SEAL obstacle course replica.

Live music is set to be played at both the May and September festivals.

The multisport festivals are set to take place at Temecula’s Vail Lake Resort, an 11,000-acre, privately owned ranch in the middle of Temecula’s wine country—about 50 miles east of San Diego—that includes camping spots and RV parking. Racers also have the option to stay at nearby hotels and resorts.

A portion of the proceeds for the event will be donated to the SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Foundation, which works to provide support to the families of fallen U.S. Special Forces troops, Ethos said.

The foundation will also help design the festivals’ challenge races, Ethos said.

The idea for the multisport festivals grew from the growing popularity of triathlons and challenge races.

“Multisport athletes live their lives a certain way, and this is sort of like us all saying, ‘If we had 36 hours to spend, how would we want to spend it? What would be the components of it?’’ asked Michael O’Neil, founder of Ethos and a triathlete for more than a decade. “People who have the same ethos—our friends—they’d say, ‘We’d want to be outside in someplace beautiful and open. We would want to compete with our friends, and we would want to celebrate or have some social aspect to it.’”

Visit Active-ethos.com for more information.

Australian Courtney Atkinson was a consistent podium finisher on the World Triathlon Series in 2010 before taking most of 2011 off due to injury. Now he’s back and ready to race. Inside Triathlon editor-in-chief Courtney Baird caught up with Atkinson after he raced the Mooloolaba World Cup to see how his form is coming along.

Triathlete.com: Hey Courtney. Can you give us an idea of how the Mooloolaba World Cup went this weekend and where you think your fitness is right now?

Courtney Atkinson: The Mooloolaba World Cup went pretty much as my training indicated. I am swimming and riding quiet strong at the moment and my running is very tired. I knew this before starting the race, so I wasn’t expecting anything more than a hit-out. Mooloolaba is my home ITU World Cup that I get to drive a car to for the weekend. My sponsors and supporters are up there, and USM events always puts on a memorable event.

Triathlete.com: What are your goals for 2012, and how do the Olympics play into those goals?

CA: Obviously, the Olympics is the big goal, but for the moment I will have to just wait to see how this pans out. [Editor’s note: Triathlon Australia has selected Brad Kahlefeldt for the Olympic team, and Atkinson is on the short list of possible candidates for what is likely to be the remaining two spots.]

What I am very excited about is I am finally—after so many years doing this sport—going to come to the U.S. to base myself this year and race some of the non-drafting Olympic-distance races I have always wanted to do and maybe even step up in distance for a try. I have always believed 70.3 will suit my strengths more than the two-hour event, but we will just wait to see how the year pans out. It’s a very exciting 2012 ahead, either way.

Triathlete.com: How are you feeling about your chances for qualifying for London this year, as there are likely going to be two more spots for the Australian men?

CA: It’s all very interesting. In a weird way I hold the key, as I am the third position in Olympic Ranking points for Australia. If I were to drop ranking that would leave Australia with only two men’s spots like at the Beijing Games.

From a performance point of view I believe my World Championship series history holds me as a strong contender. I have had multiple podiums in World Championship Series races in the Australian selection period (some of those very close finishes against some of the best guys going around—Olympic champ Jan Frodeno and Alistair Brownlee). Only one other Australian male has podiumed at the WCS level. And further more I think Erin Densham showed best on the weekend in Mooloolaba that ITU triathlon performances are unpredictable, but if you have been there before and performed at the required level it is more likely you can repeat perform when compared to an athlete who has never been at the front of major races at the finish line. [Editor’s note: Densham was the women’s winner in Mooloolaba over the weekend—it marked a comeback after her heart surgery in 2009.]

Finally, I’ve heard talk of team tactics within the Australian men’s team. At worse case scenario, if I couldn’t be in running form to be a medal contender come July, I reckon my swim and bike combination would be highly sought after. I really don’t think Triathlon Australia would be interested in using team players anyhow, but if they did I can’t see there being much good in taking a team member into the race to work for the team on the bike unless they could assure they are right up front in the swim to be able to cover all options. I would suggest this would be the case with any country considering these tactics.

Triathlete.com: You had an off year last year—can you give us an idea of what happened and how you’re gearing up this year to bounce back from it? It also seemed like you spent a lot of time away from the ITU circuit last year. What were you doing? Were you back in Australia?

CA: My off-season this year has been a success. I am very happy with how my training progressed and believe my body, and more importantly my running, is back as good as ever.

I spent most of 2011 at home in Australia. Initially, I was injured early season just from pushing too hard in run training and then never really got on top of things by the time I left for Europe to start racing. It was a quick trip as I returned back to Australia after two races knowing I didn’t have the form to be competitive. This was when my curious mind took hold and I decided with my WCS season over I would stay at home and try a new approach in training under the guidance of Craig Walton. (Editor’s note: Walton is an Australian triathlete who competed in the Sydney Olympics and who coached Emma Snowsill to gold in Beijing.)

In the past Craig had successfully helped me out of some rough patches in my career, and I knew he had the experience and expertise having coached the Olympic gold medalist. Long story short, the intensity in training didn’t suit my body and I finished the year very tired but not for one moment regretting taking a risk to see if I could find improvement.

Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee of Yorkshire, England, are the gold and silver medal favorites for the 2012 London Olympics. Inside Triathlon magazine editor-in-chief Courtney Baird caught up with them recently, asking them about Alistair’s recent Achilles injury and what it’s like to be medal favorites for their home Olympics.
 
Triathlete.com: Hey Alistair. I was sorry to hear about your Achilles tear. How has your rehab been coming along?

Alistair Brownlee: Hi there. Yes, the Achilles tear has been a massive blow for me this winter. I had four weeks in an air cast with no running and swimming in a splint, which was tedious. The boot has come off now and I am starting to ride my bike a bit more, but there’s still a little while to go before I can run outside. I don’t do the sport to spend all my days in leisure centers aqua jogging. I do it because I love being outside training, so it has been very hard for me.

Triathlete.com: What sorts of steps have you been taking to rehab the Achilles as quickly as possible?

AB: Everything I just mentioned, really. Having the air cast boot on was really restrictive and made life difficult for a while but certainly will have sped the recovery up. A tear shows up well on the MRI scan so you basically have to do nothing until it heals. Now it’s just about getting back into training…but very slowly. Endless Pools have lent me a pool with a treadmill in it, so I have started a bit of running on that.

Triathlete.com: How was your winter training going before your Achilles tear? Can you give us an idea of the sorts of workouts you were doing and what kind of shape you were in?

AB: Not sure what a workout is!? But I was in good shape before the tear. I won the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships, which is a highly contested title and had some good races over the fells as well. So I was certainly happy with the way my winter was going. [Editor’s note: a fell is an extremely steep hill in northern England and Scotland. The Brownlees have been fell running since they were young boys.]

Triathlete.com: Do you have any thoughts on when you’ll be back to full training?

AB: Yes, definitely—it’s all I’ve been thinking about for the last month! However, Achilles injuries are very serious, so I want to be back as soon as I can but know that I have to be very careful.

Triathlete.com: I know you don’t think much about pressure, but what are your thoughts about the increased media attention you’ve received as the Games have gotten closer? How will you deal with it as you head into the Games?

AB: A lot of the media attention is fine. It’s something that comes with being a top athlete. We definitely have it easier than a lot of athletes, as well. We can have almost normal lives up here in Yorkshire. It will obviously change in the few weeks leading up to the Games, but we have been anticipating that for a long time. When I reach the start line I will put just as much pressure on myself as I have for every race so far in my career.

Triathlete.com: The WCS London event was really crowded with British fans, and you and Jonny both received a huge applause when they announced your names. Have you thought at all what it will be like to race the Olympics on home soil as the gold medal favorite? Are you looking forward to it?

AB: Yes, the support in London last year was fantastic, and it does give you a massive lift. I have been favorite in races a lot last year and in previous years—it certainly doesn’t have a negative effect on me. By the time of the race you have already prepared mentally and are focused on the task in hand. Having the support on the day is a huge morale boost, and I really do look forward to that atmosphere.

Triathlete.com: And, finally, has Jonny paid his rent yet?

AB: Ha, yes, he’s paid for the last few months…Still waiting for the back payments though!

RELATED: Prepare For The British Invasion

Check out the next page for our interview with Jonathan Brownlee.

For the ITU obsessed, the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup marks the official start of every ITU season—and Mooloolaba is finally here.

While Mooloolaba, which takes place this weekend in Australia, always features the type of field that could fill out a World Triathlon Series event (the pinnacle of the ITU circuit), this year Mooloolaba is especially deep.

The men’s field will include three-time Mooloolaba champ Brad Kahlefeldt, 2011 breakout star Brendan Sexton and multiple World Triathlon series podium finisher Courtney Atkinson, all of Australia; 2012 Olympic qualifiers David Hauss and Laurent Vidal of France; and British standout William Clarke, among many others.

And the women’s field will include 2011 World Triathlon Series Grand Final winner Andrea Hewitt and World Triathlon Series Yokohama bronze medalist Kate McIlroy, both of New Zealand; reigning Olympic champion Emma Snowsill and 2008 Beijing bronze medalist Emma Moffatt of Australia; 2010 ITU sprint world champion and 2011 Hy-Vee Triathlon winner Lisa Norden of Sweden; and top Americans Laura Bennett and Gwen Jorgensen, among many others.

PHOTOS: 2011 ITU World Cup Mooloolaba

The course is tough and features a large hill that athletes must contend with seven times on the bike and four times on the run.

“It’s a course you have to respect,” Kahlefeldt said at the ITU’s recent press conference. “I certainly didn’t respect it as a junior—I came through and absolutely got beaten.”

While Mooloolaba will kick start the 2012 season and offer exciting racing, athletes’ individual race plans will more likely be about dusting off the cobwebs than winning, as they are preparing for the biggest event of the year—the 2012 London Olympics in August.

But being as it is an Olympic year, Mooloolaba will also feature a subplot—points chasing.

Per the ITU’s complicated Olympic qualification rules, only eight countries get to send three men to the Olympics, and only eight countries get to send three women to the Olympics—and these countries are essentially decided by points that athletes earn at races.

Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf and Canada’s Kyle Jones, for example, are two athletes who are set to race Mooloolaba and who are currently chasing points.

The final country spots will not be decided until the Madrid leg of the World Triathlon Series in late May.

You can follow Mooloolaba live with updates at Triathlon.org/live or on Twitter at Twitter.com/triathlonlive.

Will it be London or Kona for Chris McCormack in 2012? Inside Triathlon editor-in-chief Courtney Baird caught up with the two-time Ironman world champ to find out where he stands.

Triathlete.com: You’ve finished three ITU races so far this year already, including the Oceania Championships this past weekend. Could you give us an idea of how you think they went for you?

Chris McCormack: I think I have raced exceptionally well. My first sprint distance race in 12 years was in New Zealand, and I had a solid sixth. Then the following week I almost won the Australian Sprint title (a penalty cost me in the end) and then last week in Devonport, I showed I can race as a team player and sat back with the Kiwis to ensure an Australia win in Devonport. My kickoff has been really solid I think. You know I am back running fast, but I have left myself a tight schedule of eight months to pull this dream off. I am very close, I think. This draft legal racing is very different, so trying to follow results is not always the key. Australia went into Devonport with a team agenda and we played that. I was under strict instructions to ensure that we kept the fast runners from New Zealand in the second group. I was always going to be in this group but was not allowed to work. We ended up losing 3 minutes on the bike (this was a success because we kept Ryan Sissons from victory in Devonport), but it left me out of the picture. I cruised the run but had one of the fastest 5 runs of the day. It was a positive race for me, and I think more than anything it showed that, come Olympic time, if I am called upon I am happy to play a team tactic to ensure Australian success. I have said from the beginning that going to the Olympics is a massive ask and a huge undertaking. On this journey though, I have met many within the new wave of athletes and it has driven and given me great motivation. To be a part of an Australian Olympic team that is its most successful ever at an Olympics would be a dream. The Australians have the arsenal to pull something off. I have enjoyed every moment and would enjoy going all the way through to August as part of it. I have lots more improvement I can make between now and then. I think right now Brendan Sexton should be picked for our Team. Along with Brad [Kahlefeldt], we have the arsenal on foot to grab medals. The rest of us are very similar in our strengths (different in different areas). Australia’s selection policy is discretionary, so it is not a matter of picking the best of the rest. It may come down to just how we can be as teammates and what best gives us a chance for success in London. I have to say I have enjoyed everything, the process, the training and meeting all the guys. I am happy with how I have progressed and still think we have more to come. Loving it at the moment. It is tough racing!

Triathlete.com: What’s next for you on your racing calendar?

Macca: I have the Mooloolaba World Cup next weekend, then I am racing the Lavaman Triathlon (I do this to support Team in Training every year, as it is a wonderful event), before doing the Sydney round of the World Triathlon Series. I am hoping Australia can give us some indication as to Olympic selection by then, as for many athletes it will give us time to focus on our seasons. The worst thing they could possibly do is a late selection. It would be a huge mistake. San Diego [the World Triathlon Series] might be on the cards, but I would be hoping this would only be necessary to secure the three spots for the country. I have a double season plan for the year. One has the Olympics in it and the other is a non-Olympic year. Regardless, I think I will go to London and support the Aussies. I feel like I have come on this journey with many of them, so being there to support would be fun. As I said when I started this journey, if I am not selected, I will return to what I do best, Ironman racing! We have a lot of new challenges this year and sinking my teeth into some of them would be a very enjoyable end of year. So much to look at. It is really exciting times in the sport right now.

Triathlete.com: How has your training been coming along? Have you been able to avoid injury?

Macca: Training has been great. I’m still learning how to keep my form open as this has changed since my early days. I seem to be able to flatten myself a lot easier with too much intensity nowadays, and this was much different than years before. We are learning so much right now. It is time that has been the biggest issue for us. I do wish we gave ourselves a little more time, as I think we are really starting to understand my boundaries in this style of work and this gives us more consistency. I think I flattened myself last week with some solid work and picked up a bug. It is just trying to get your mix right and understanding what works for you and how you can nail that race day performance. I was exceptional as a younger athlete at doing this, but we had our systems down. We tried to work closely with these in the comeback, but the body responds very differently now to that workload, and I am coming at it from a different angle than what I was back then. When I nail my performances right in training I am right there—some of the track sessions I have done were as good as I was doing 15 years ago. Some of my bike sets are even better than I was doing 12 years ago. My swim is still coming along, but despite what people think it is not a major concern for me. I know if I am back in Aix-les-Bains, France [where the Australians host their national training camps in Europe], with the Australian guys I can get that right where it needs to be. Right now my focus is on the run and bike. I have avoided injury, am feeling strong, am lean and learning. This racing is so different to the Ironman stuff. The draft legal component changes things massively. You have to work out and think of your strengths in a very different way to what you would in a non-drafting style. Training is fun, enjoyable and getting better. I love it!

PHOTOS: Chris “Macca” McCormack

Inside Triathlon magazine traveled to Costa Rica in February of 2011 to check out Rev3’s first international event: a half-iron, Olympic and sprint races in Guanacaste.

The following is a sampling of what we found there.

The 2012 version of the race is set to take place this Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18.

To subscribe to Inside Triathlon magazine, click here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Photographs by Eric Wynn

Photos by Jason Wise.

Captions by Courtney Baird.

Photos by Matt Harbicht.

Captions by Holly Bennett and Courtney Baird.

RELATED: Behind The Scenes With The Bennetts