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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight.

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BMAN

Aug 19, 08 16:04

Post #1 of 65 (2192 views)

Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight.	Can't Post

I just finished watching a video interview with Simon discussing his race and other items. It was a great interview but one thing caught me a bit off guard and I hope that REDSTORM (Dano) can help me out with this. Simon talks about Colin a lot and how they have worked together on the squad in regards to pulling this podium finish off but there is no talk about Paul at all. I also read an article on Simon stating that he would be getting $30,000 for his silver medal and would split it with Colin to help out with his schooling next year but again no comment in the interview about Paul.

My quesiton to the people in the know is that I thought Paul was a part of the squad. Was he just training with the squad in the lead up to the Olympics and that is his only involvement with the sqaud.

Also they interview Colin after the race but not Paul.

So any insight to the team dynamics. I guess it was really not a TEAM after all but Simon and Colin with Paul just there?

We have 5 triathlete really in Canada for the ITU in Simon, Paul, Brent, Kyle and Colin (I think that is the order they are in currently with the ITU). Whom do they all train with and would it not makes sense for them to all train together to get to the next level. Simon is there, Paul is almost there and the other three are hit and miss but I just see that if we are to take triathlon to the next level in Canada, these guys need to train together to take it to a new level and get new blood in there as well.

I am not trying to stir up anything at all but just very curious.

So any insight into how all 5 of these guys interact, their coaches, their training locations and how they all fit together would be great.

I think Dano might have the scoop on this.
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jonnyo

Aug 19, 08 16:19

Post #2 of 65 (2155 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

All the athlete are in victoria but paul. He is in edmonton.

All athlete work with joel filliol but Brent...

all athlete train together regularly and get along very well

For the olympic. Colin was dedicated to his role of support for simon. Paul wanted to race for himself as he wanted to go for it. He was granted permission and was also allowed to train i edmonton and be with his family/GF.

so, it was a team of 2 and one individual. no hard feeling, just different choice/strategy. that simple....

Jonathan Caron
Professional Triathlete and Coach
jonnyoworld.blogspot.com

thunderlegs

Aug 19, 08 16:23

Post #3 of 65 (2131 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, I only know what I've seen on TV, but it sure sounded like Simon and Paul were both going for the podium, and Colin was there to help whichever wound up being in a better position. Of course everyone rightly expected it to be Simon. And it did sound like everyone knew the plan going into the start. I'm curious how Simon and Colin felt about that though. Regardless, it worked out well.

So basically, yeah. What jonnyo said.

psychosyd

Aug 19, 08 16:55

Post #4 of 65 (2050 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

For those who are interested here is the link to the interview. Simon is one classy dude. Just one of those guys that make you proud to be a triathlete (and canadian!!).
http://www.cbc.ca/...mp;videoId=826889883
Admin at : www.canadiantriathletes.com
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seanathan

Aug 19, 08 18:08

Post #5 of 65 (1954 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [psychosyd] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"this content is currently unavailable"
won't play the video
-----------------------------------------------------------
Yes. Always punch people in the face when their interests are different than yours. There can be no other way.
-one_lap

Epiclesis

Aug 19, 08 18:24

Post #6 of 65 (1905 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [seanathan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

"this content is currently unavailable"
won't play the video

becuase you dont live in canada.
----------
Fortitudine Vincimus

caius

Aug 19, 08 18:41

Post #7 of 65 (1875 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just saw the interview. Great question.

Simon is one classy and eloquent dude. That's all I can say. The more I see/read of him, the more I respect him and what he's done for the sport in general, triathlon in Canada and the up and coming athletes.

bmas

Aug 19, 08 18:50

Post #8 of 65 (1849 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [caius] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes - That interview shows how Simon is total class and makes me so proud to be Canadian. Did you see how quickly he went over to give congrats to Frodeno - and how genuine that was.

Rappstar even got some credit as one of the training partners he works with.

I must admit to blubbering all the way through the interview, as I realized that Simon was the inspiration that got me off the couch in 2000, and now 3 IM later, age 55, I've never felt better.

Thanks Simon!!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------
"Every time I see someone on a bicycle, I fear less for the future of the human race." HG Wells

BMAN

Aug 19, 08 18:52

Post #9 of 65 (1844 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [jonnyo] [In reply to]	Can't Post

More questions to say the least and since Jonnyo has a bit of insight, I hope that he can answer some more. I did the NTTC training camp a few years ago and was able to meet Simon, Peter and the gang when they were training out of the Commonwealth Pool and remember hearing that Joel's group was training out of the Crystal pool and such.

If the SQUAD is such a power house in Canadian triathlon why the hell do they not have the use of the Commonwealth Pool and that whole set up? They for sure after this performance should have a headquarters to base their SQUAD out of and to me that pool is the best choice by far. Is Lance's group still working out of there and if they are that could answer a few questions.

I personally think that this team needs to have access to better training grounds, other than the Crystal Pool. It would be great for the Squad to just become the official Canadian team, have the best use of training areas and it would be amazing for them to get a bicycle sponsor, shoe sponsor and clothing sponsor. I would hope that Simon would have enough pull with Nike Canada or Beaverton to get the whole squad set up.

I think this would take them all to the next level if all they really had to worry about was their training.
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Khai

Aug 19, 08 19:15

Post #10 of 65 (1793 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

If the SQUAD is such a power house in Canadian triathlon why the hell do they not have the use of the Commonwealth Pool and that whole set up? They for sure after this performance should have a headquarters to base their SQUAD out of and to me that pool is the best choice by far. Is Lance's group still working out of there and if they are that could answer a few questions.

I personally think that this team needs to have access to better training grounds, other than the Crystal Pool. It would be great for the Squad to just become the official Canadian team, have the best use of training areas and it would be amazing for them to get a bicycle sponsor, shoe sponsor and clothing sponsor. I would hope that Simon would have enough pull with Nike Canada or Beaverton to get the whole squad set up.

I think this would take them all to the next level if all they really had to worry about was their training.

My understanding is that Joel rather likes the Crystal Pool:

http://joelfilliol.blogspot.com/
http://www.slowtwitch.com/...oel_Filliol_248.html

House of BAMF: Crystal Pool Team BAMF / NTC Seniors are based at the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre in VictoriaAwesome facility, with the best guards and staff, and most importantly, fast swimming karma

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Bluefan75

Aug 19, 08 19:21

Post #11 of 65 (1778 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The article in the Globe and Mail today talks about Triathlon Canada ceded to Whitfield's wishes to have Jenkins at the Olympics instead of McMahon. McMahon was the better choice in terms of an athlete who could compete better, but apparently Jenkins was a "hired gun" fo lack of a better word. Just get out of the water in position to give Whitfield a draft. Since McMahon would race for himself....

How silly of me to think this was an individual sport. Frankly it's why I hate draft legal racing.

I heard a good suggestion: Rather than individual finishers, take the average time of the countries' 3 athletes, and rank them that way.

I'm supposed to feeling good that Canada got a medal, and justify it with "all the other countries are doing it", but I just find this goes completly against the spirit of triathlon.

"I can endure more pain than anyone you've ever met. That's why I can beat anyone I've ever met." Steve Prefontaine, Without Limits

deee

Aug 19, 08 19:29

Post #12 of 65 (1755 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bluefan75] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

... apparently Jenkins was a "hired gun" fo lack of a better word. Just get out of the water in position to give Whitfield a draft.

Is that new news to you? Because it really shouldn't be.
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Uncle Phil

Aug 19, 08 19:34

Post #13 of 65 (1746 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bluefan75] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well that would kind of suck for the countries without 3 athletes in the race...and could you imagine the size of the field if every country did have 3 athletes?

Quote

I heard a good suggestion: Rather than individual finishers, take the average time of the countries' 3 athletes, and rank them that way.

BMAN

Aug 19, 08 20:20

Post #14 of 65 (1683 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Khai] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Having been born and raised in Victoria and having lived there for 26 years, the Crystal Pool is just not at the same level as the Commonwealth pool. But having said that, I do get the karma part as there have been some great groups swimming out of there and I think that Team WestCoast used to and maybe they still do swim out of there.

I am pretty sure that Simon swam out of the Commonwealth pool under Lance and with Coach Neil before switching coaches which might have something to do with the pool choice.
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Timemachine

Aug 19, 08 20:29

Post #15 of 65 (1659 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I know I'm a little slow but I am still trying to understand what Colin Jenkins did that was so fabulous. Can anyone explain what he did that deserved him getting preference over other athletes in the run up to the Olympics?

Greg.

JasoninHalifax

Aug 19, 08 20:32

Post #16 of 65 (1651 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Timemachine] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Jenkins has a more consistent swim,and is better on the bike. his run is weaker, but we had Simon for that.

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Jagerstar

Aug 19, 08 20:32

Post #17 of 65 (1649 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Timemachine] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

THANK YOU!!
I'm glad someone said it, what did he do? he just pushed the bike pace a little bit,

BMAN

Aug 19, 08 20:34

Post #18 of 65 (1644 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Uncle Phil] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I am pretty sure that they used to take the times for the three team members and hand out team awards for the team with the lowest times. I am very sure that Mark Bates, Frank Clark and Andrew MacMartin won this for Canada back in the day with their overall placing at worlds.

I think they had the individual medals as well as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for the teams as well.

I think this would be a great idea to award teams as well as individual efforts and it should be fairly easy for each country to field a team of three athletes but I do agree that this would be a very big field. Why does it have to be three athletes from each country. Why could it not be two and you race for individual medals and the team with the lowest combined time gets a medal as well.
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JasoninHalifax

Aug 19, 08 20:37

Post #19 of 65 (1632 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Jagerstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

well, he wasn't really called on to do all that much. If the race had worked out differently with Whitfield getting gapped on the bike, caught behind a crash, etc, he would have had to do more. Setting the tempo is a pretty good days work in itself. Discourages attacks so that the strong runners are better set up for the run. Kinda like what the CSC boys did in the Tour this year, Disco in prior years, etc...

____________________________________
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"Cats like Ham" - Tom D.

Jagerstar

Aug 19, 08 20:39

Post #20 of 65 (1625 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [JasoninHalifax] [In reply to]	Can't Post

ahh ok, the setting the tempo thing, I did def. see, Makes sense

monty

Aug 19, 08 20:41

Post #21 of 65 (1622 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Timemachine] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I know I'm a little slow but I am still trying to understand what Colin Jenkins did that was so fabulous.\

Think George Hincape and Lance Armstrong...Colin made sure that Simon did not have to take one pedal stroke in anger, and save his legs for the run. Turns out he needed every bit of those legs too, and had nothing to spare...If you watched the race at all, you could see that he knew his job too, and gladly performed it.....

(This post was edited by monty on Aug 19, 08 20:44)

Khai

Aug 19, 08 20:43

Post #22 of 65 (1616 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Timemachine] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Can anyone explain what he did that deserved him getting preference over other athletes in the run up to the Olympics?

Greg.

Colin spent the past three years training specifically for the role of supporting Simon during this race. He was the only one who never had any intentions to race for himself, but to help Simon get onto the podium.

<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
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BMAN

Aug 19, 08 21:01

Post #23 of 65 (1577 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Timemachine] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Basically Simon wanted him to tow him around on the swim and the bike and delivery him to T2 with no problems. I would say that he did a good job at getting this done. The only reason that he got preference over the other athletes is Simon Says So as far as I can tell. You know as much as I do Greg that if Brent was on the team he would not have worked for Simon so that is why he was not on the team. Think about 2004 in which he did not work for Simon at all so that is why he is not on the team. Kyle might have but I believe that Brent was on better form leading up to the Olympics and ranked third. Is Brent as strong as Colin on the bike.

I would say that picking Colin over Brent did work out and Simon did get towed around the course by a stronger cyclist. I think Team Canada's outlook on the team and the risk they took in putting all their eggs in one basket worked.

Here is the thing that bugs me about after the race. Not one person gives a shit about Paul nor do they mention him in any interviews and print other than Paul 28th place Canadian. Colin finishes DEAD LAST and gets way more coverage. Yes he did work for Simon but hello, Paul finished 22 spots ahead of him. However, he was getting a lot of press right up to the time that he decided to race for himself and not the team. Was this a big mistake for him to come out and say this. I personally think it was as he got no air time after.

It will be very interesting in the next year to see where the Elite Team goes with this concept and who gets what.
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MarkyV

Aug 19, 08 21:02

Post #24 of 65 (1571 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [monty] [In reply to]	Can't Post

deee

Aug 19, 08 21:13

Post #25 of 65 (1550 views)

Re: Simon Whitfield interview on CBC. REDSTORM a little insight. [Bman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm sort of wondering if Paul was too disappointed with his race to do interviews etc. He was pretty public about his goal to medal there. I think he did great anyways, but maybe...
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