Interview with a Beginner Triathlete Q: Tell me a little bit about your sporting background? Did you play sports in high school? Were you a star? I played field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse... was MVP in ice hockey and lacrosse in high school and captain, and in college played on the varsity for all three at Brown University. Two years of field hockey, one year of ice hockey and three years in lacrosse. I was on the all time scoring leader list in the history of Brown for lacrosse. Q: Tell me about the moment you decided to do your first triathlon. Why did you decide to do it? What attracted you to this sport? After I watched my first triathlon. A friend of mine was doing it, I had no idea what one was, it looked like such a great challenge, and so much fun. It was then I decided, I am going to do this one day! Q: Let's be kind and say your first triathlon wasn't your best. Tell me a little bit about it. Where was it? How old were you? What did you learn that day? I was 23 years old. It was in Englewood, Colorado - my first time at altitude. I learned how passionate I was about the sport, no matter how bad I was at it. I learned that it was all about passion for me, and nothing else, a personal challenge that I was determined to take. Q: Why didn't you quit? What motivated you to keep going? I loved the sport. It seemed like such an incredible lifestyle sport: A healthy way of life, healthy competition, great people. I just loved it and wanted to become good at it, and was determined to make that happen. Q: What was your weakest sport - run, bike or swim? Swim, I learned how when I was 23 years old. Q: What was key in getting better at your weakest sport? Train hard, train harder, keep digging deep and pushing yourself to new limits in that discipline. Work, work, work and believe! Q: What tips can you give to beginners who may or may not have had a good start in triathlon? Never stop believing you can do it! I had no talent whatsoever and I became a world champion. I wanted it desparately in my heart, believed I could do it in my head, and was willing to do the work necessary to become the best that I could be. Q: How did you go from just competing in triathlon to contending as an elite in triathlon? That is a very broad question. Lots of trial and error, lots of training, lots of hard work, and lots of help from people who knew more than I knew and were better than I was. Q: What has been the key to your rise in the triathlon world? A great support system: Family, training partners, and coach. A never-ending belief in myself, passion and the willingness to work harder than I could have ever imagined and commit my life to my goals and dreams. Q: People have made a big deal about you retiring after winning two World Cups. Tell me a little bit about why you decided to quit competing so soon? I actually had two seasons winning the whole World Cup series. In all, I won 13 World Cup races, and two World Championships, the Triathlon World Championship in 2001 and the Abutilon World Championship in 2001. I had two winning seasons in a row, which was something only one other person has done in the history of the sport (winning that many World Cups in a row). I felt I had achieved my every dream and was now wanting to give back to the sport and the people who had given me so much throughout my career. Q: At the REI seminar you talked about your childhood and how you didn't have a lot of confidence at a young age? What is it about triathlon that has helped you to gain that confidence we all seek? Everyone told me it would be impossible to achive my dream in a sport that I had no background in at all, and apparently really struggled at. I achieved the impossible dream, I proved everyone wrong, including the doubter within myself. Winning a World Championship was the ultimate dream for me, I had worked so hard and proved to myself that my hard work, commitment and dedication and inner spirit and drive WAS enough to achieve my ultimate dream. That was an invaluable gift I gave myself that will live within me forever. Q: How are women doing in triathlon? Do they get the respect that they deserve? Is it getting better for them to get sponsors, become a professional, earn respect? It is so much better these days, there are so many amazing female athletes out there who seem to get the same respect the males do. And there is an inter-gender respect as well, the guys really respect the girls and vice versa. Q: What needs to be done for women to advance in this sport? Anything? Nothing? Keep participating, keep passionate about it, keep working hard! Q: You coached Susan Williams during her run up to winning bronze in Athens? What can you tell us that you told Susan to keep her going and reaching her goals? LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED! If you have a big goal and you want to ensure that you achieve it, you have to look at every single factor that could influence this and give it 100% attention: Your mind, your body, your spirit, doing all the necessary work, getting plenty of rest, taking care of your body, everything plays a role in reaching your utmost potential. If you prove you can do it in training, you WILL do it in a race. Q: What advice do you have for the beginners? ALWAYS have fun!! This is my advice, no matter what level you compete at. You have to love it to do well, enjoy it and feel so thankful that you are able to participate in such a nourishing and wonderful sport! Q: Do you believe that triathlon competition is a metaphor for life? If so, how. If not, why not? Yes, if you train to your utmost ability, give it your heart and soul, the results will be great. If you want anything in life you have to go out and get it and work hard for it. You need to set goals, believe in yourself and know that there will be good times and bad. You learn the most through the hard stuff, so it is important to embrace those times. Likewise it is so important to really live your victories, love the good times and cherish them. They give you something to dream for, to work for and to believe in. Back to Articles Page

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