Future Looks Bright for U.S. Triathletes By Siri Lindley, NBC Commentator June 2004 Here we are, just two and a half months out from the 2004 Olympic Games and the triathlon qualifying process is nearing an end for the United States. Two spots on each of the three-person teams have been determined, and America's best have qualified to compete in Athens -- Barb Lindquist and Sheila Taormina on the women's team and Hunter Kemper and Andy Potts on the men's. So far, there have been no dramas or surprises as our top athletes in the world rankings did what most would have expected them to do -- shine at the first two Olympic qualifying races. Lindquist was the first to secure a spot on the women's team by winning the first qualifier -- the Honolulu Triathlon -- while Taormina's victory at the 2004 World Championships in Madeira, Portugal, on a course similar in terrain to Athens, earned her the second spot. Both Lindquist and Taormina, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world respectively, have great shots at medals in Athens. Both are extremely fit and strong and well suited to the tough nature of the Olympic course. This bodes well for the Americans. Hunter Kemper, continuing his successful 2004 streak, grabbed the first spot on the men's team by being the first American over the line in Honolulu, second overall to defending Olympic champion Simon Whitfield of Canada. Former swimmer Andy Potts, in his third year in the elite ranks, looked about 10 pounds lighter and ready for the task of becoming the second American male named to the Olympic team. He took the spot as the second American finisher (11th overall) at Worlds, just behind Kemper. With the coveted third spot on each team still up for grabs, hopefuls will gather in Bellingham, Washington on June 13th for the final qualifying race. The way I see it, the main contenders on the women's team are Susan Williams and Laura Reback. Williams was the second American woman to finish in Honolulu, a mere 15 seconds behind Lindquist, and posted the fastest run and bike splits. Susan is a great swimmer with the potential to swim with Barb, Sheila and Laura on a great day. She is considered one of the top cyclists in the sport and has proven that she has a great run in her arsenal as well. For these reasons, I believe Susan has what it takes to be a real threat on a strength course such as Bellingham and ultimately, Athens. Reback, ranked No. 3 in the world, consistently finishes the swim alongside Lindquist and Taormina, which puts her in a good position for the rest of the race. Her very strong run leg has won her a few races on the world triathlon circuit, including a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships and a bronze at the 2004 Worlds. Laura's weakness, however, is cycling. On strength courses such as Bellingham and Athens, this could hurt her chances of Olympic qualification. On the men's side, the competition is wide open with a number of athletes in the mix. Two with the best shot at the third spot are Doug Friman and Victor Plata. Friman is coming off a victory at an ITU points race in Arizona, and Plata, a alternate at the 2000 Sydney Games, placed fourth in the Acapulco ITU International Triathlon in March, behind Kemper, Potts and Mexico's Javier Rosas. The United States is in a great position to win a medal in Athens. The women's team has consistently been tops in the world for the last few years, with at least three women in the world top 10 rankings each year. An American woman has held the world No.1 position since 2001. I held the top spot from 2001-2003, and Barb has owned it ever since. With Sheila ranked No. 2 and Laura ranked No. 3, the American women have a strong hold on the top team position in the world. The American women are known for their dominance in the swim, strength on the bike and winning ways&all things that would be necessary to win on a course such as Athens. The American men have been steadily rising through the world rankings and are now showing their strength on the world scene. Kemper has consistently been the top American since 2000 and set the standard for the other American men who are improving rapidly. The U.S. men may not be as dominant as the American women are at this point, but the future sure looks bright. This article was originally published on the NBC Olympics official website: Future Looks Bright for U.S. Triathletes Back to Articles Page

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