One summer about 15 or so years ago, I was at the cottage making
lunch between swimming and soaking up the sun. The local news was on tv reporting about
sporting events around the Muskoka area.
I wasn’t paying much attention, but I was aware the tv was on, and they were talking about this (relatively unknown at the time) sport called triathlon…still not paying much attention. Apparently there was a big event going on in Muskoka …still not paying attention. And they were talking about this young “up and comer” guy who was this hopeful 'big deal' athlete... or he was already somewhat of a big deal, not totally sure, ‘cause I still wasn’t paying much attention…. But I got that his name was Simon. And when they interviewed him (though to be honest, I can’t fully remember if he said it on tv or I read it in the local paper the next day), he told a story about throwing up on one of the drink stations in the middle of the run, feeling better, and going on to finish the race... and that part really got my attention.
Why would a story about throwing up make me like someone? I don’t know. But at that moment I decided triathlons would be in my future. And I wrote it on my list of things to do: “start doing triathlons when I turn 30” (for some reason I thought you had to be older to do them, and I guess I had other stuff to do first).
Yup, just to reiterate: I singled out the sport of triathlon, carried it around in my mind for just under a decade, started training when my 30th birthday approached, and actually achieved my goal (competing in 2 races - my 1st tri & my 2nd tri - before I left for Thailand), all because some guy named Simon told a story about vomiting during a race, and I thought that sounded like something I wanted to get into…? (Side note, if you're interested: I now train to compete in Sprint Tris.)
But there’s more to this story then just how I got interested in triathlons, because after that vomit story sparked my interest, that Simon guy seemed to keep popping up again and again.
Not long after that summer, I was sitting in the lounge of an indoor go-cart track watching my friends race. The Sydney Olympics were on TV. People were running on the screen. I was watching my friends go around the track. But I kept hearing this voice in the background “Simon coming to the finish…” “Simon… something, something…Canada…Simon… Canada…Simon…” I could hear the crowd explosively cheering on the TV, and the announcer was full-on freaking out. My eyes became glued to the screen, and I so vividly remember standing, poised with emotion, staring at the screen in that lounge all alone, watching Canadian Simon Whitfield cross the finish line, becoming the first ever gold medalist in an Olympic Triathlon at the 2000 Summer Games.
“Hey that’s the guy that puked on the drink table in Muskoka!” and I was hooked for life. Which has been devotion well spent, as that kid on the local news has gone on to achieve a great many things and become (and continues to be) a true Canadian Icon. To quote his website biography for you:
Here are some links to some Simon Whitfield stuff you should check out:
His website & twitter feed.
A cool video: Day in the Life - Training with Simon Whitfield
And What My Phone Saw & Triton Triathlon
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I wasn’t paying much attention, but I was aware the tv was on, and they were talking about this (relatively unknown at the time) sport called triathlon…still not paying much attention. Apparently there was a big event going on in Muskoka …still not paying attention. And they were talking about this young “up and comer” guy who was this hopeful 'big deal' athlete... or he was already somewhat of a big deal, not totally sure, ‘cause I still wasn’t paying much attention…. But I got that his name was Simon. And when they interviewed him (though to be honest, I can’t fully remember if he said it on tv or I read it in the local paper the next day), he told a story about throwing up on one of the drink stations in the middle of the run, feeling better, and going on to finish the race... and that part really got my attention.
Why would a story about throwing up make me like someone? I don’t know. But at that moment I decided triathlons would be in my future. And I wrote it on my list of things to do: “start doing triathlons when I turn 30” (for some reason I thought you had to be older to do them, and I guess I had other stuff to do first).
Yup, just to reiterate: I singled out the sport of triathlon, carried it around in my mind for just under a decade, started training when my 30th birthday approached, and actually achieved my goal (competing in 2 races - my 1st tri & my 2nd tri - before I left for Thailand), all because some guy named Simon told a story about vomiting during a race, and I thought that sounded like something I wanted to get into…? (Side note, if you're interested: I now train to compete in Sprint Tris.)
But there’s more to this story then just how I got interested in triathlons, because after that vomit story sparked my interest, that Simon guy seemed to keep popping up again and again.
Not long after that summer, I was sitting in the lounge of an indoor go-cart track watching my friends race. The Sydney Olympics were on TV. People were running on the screen. I was watching my friends go around the track. But I kept hearing this voice in the background “Simon coming to the finish…” “Simon… something, something…Canada…Simon… Canada…Simon…” I could hear the crowd explosively cheering on the TV, and the announcer was full-on freaking out. My eyes became glued to the screen, and I so vividly remember standing, poised with emotion, staring at the screen in that lounge all alone, watching Canadian Simon Whitfield cross the finish line, becoming the first ever gold medalist in an Olympic Triathlon at the 2000 Summer Games.
“Hey that’s the guy that puked on the drink table in Muskoka!” and I was hooked for life. Which has been devotion well spent, as that kid on the local news has gone on to achieve a great many things and become (and continues to be) a true Canadian Icon. To quote his website biography for you:
Simon has continued since Sydney to pursue his sport with a passion and professionalism second to none. The rewards have followed the hard work: 12 national championships, 14 world cup victories, and, perhaps most significantly, in 2008 at the Beijing Olympic Games, in a race where he was counted out by everyone but himself, a stunning silver medal. *(Note: See him win silver in Beijing here)
Now I don't know Simon Whitfield personally, but someday I intend to shake his hand and let him know how much I appreciate him for being himself and sharing his relentless pursuit with the rest of us. I'm not an Olympic athlete, but paying attention to him all these years has helped me put together my own dream and helped focus me on learning how to make it happen for myself.
Maybe it was his blatant honesty that caught my attention so
many years ago. Maybe it was his reoccurring presence over the years that made
me stick with my own plans. Maybe it was just his pure Canadian awesomeness
that I just love and appreciate so much more, since I’ve been “out-of-town”
these last few years.
Whatever it is, he’s got it.
People that make you
believe in yourself are remarkable,
be on the lookout for them everywhere you
go.
Because it just might be the kid on the local news talking about vomit.
---
Watch Simon lead our remarkable athletes into the Olympic Stadium in London in just 12 days!!
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| Picture Source |
Here are some links to some Simon Whitfield stuff you should check out:
His website & twitter feed.
A cool video: Day in the Life - Training with Simon Whitfield
And What My Phone Saw & Triton Triathlon
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