THE CANADIAN PRESS
Colin Jenkins is on the Olympic men’s triathlon team because he’s willing to sacrifice his dreams of a medal to get teammate Simon Whitfield on the podium in Beijing.
Whitfield, the Olympic gold medallist in 2000, Edmonton’s Paul Tichelaar and Jenkins, from Hamilton, Ont., were named to the men’s team Monday by Triathlon Canada.
Jenkins was appointed to the team ahead of Victoria’s Brent McMahon, who is ranked higher than Jenkins internationally, because Triathlon Canada says Whitfield’s chances of winning a medal improve with a teammate whose sole purpose is to draft for Whitfield on the 40-kilometre bike leg of the race.
"We’re putting a team together that’s about medal contention and at the end of the day, that pressure falls on me," Whitfield said Monday from Vancouver in a conference call.
"We set this team up and I have to go perform."
When cyclists draft for each other, they take turns riding at the front of the pack to cut down on wind resistance for those behind them.
Triathlon is an individual sport, but the athletes draft for each other on the bike to reel in leaders or increase their lead.
In the Tour de France, a rider whose sole purpose is to draft for a teammate is called a "domestique." That is what Jenkins, who is a strong swimmer and cyclist, but an average runner, will be Aug. 19.
"I have no pipe dream that I’ll be the one on top of the podium in Beijing," Jenkins said. "I’m going to Beijing to do anything I can to help Simon win and get on top of the podium. That’s my role."
The men’s Olympic team was chosen by Triathlon Canada’s high performance committee which consists of chairman Dr. Tom Patrick, Olympic coach Joel Filliol, Barrie Shepley, Gary Pallett and athlete representative Suzanne Weckend.
President Stephen Holmes and executive director Alan Trivett are also on the committee, but don’t vote. Trivett said the team selection was unanimous.
Sunday’s world championship in Vancouver was the last chance for Canadians to secure a spot on the Olympic team and a top-eight result was required.
Whitfield was sixth, but he’d already earned his berth by finishing fourth at the 2007 world championships. Tichelaar was ninth and Jenkins was 55th. McMahon finished 17th.
So the remaining two nominations to the Olympic team fell to the discretion of Triathlon Canada.
Team selection has been a contentious issue since the sport’s governing body in Canada changed its criteria late last year from a top-16 result to a top-eight result at the world championship in Vancouver.
McMahon, Tichelaar and Carolyn Murray launched an unsuccessful appeal of the change.
The man on the outside looking in is McMahon. The 27-year-old won a silver medal at the Pan Am Games last year and finished the season ranked 31st. Jenkins was ranked 47th in 2007.
McMahon wasn’t interested in another appeal because of the hours of research and telephone calls it takes.
"It’s a very draining process," he said Monday from Vancouver. "You can only do that so many times."
He wasn’t shocked by Monday’s announcement because he knew Triathlon Canada’s intentions if he didn’t secure a top-eight spot Sunday.
"They’ve given themselves the power to do basically whatever they want," he said.
.While McMahon says he would be willing to help Whitfield during the Olympic race when the opportunity presented itself, he wasn’t going to do so at his own expense.
He’s not sure how much of a difference Jenkins can make.
"If Simon is having a bad day, he’s having a bad day and he’s not going to run well enough to win, no matter what Colin does," McMahon said. "They’re not going to get him away (on the run) with a one-minute lead if he’s having a bad day.
"I want a Canadian to get a medal, but I just don’t know if this is going to increase the chances or not."
Triathlon Canada’s desire to choose an athlete whose sole purpose was to help Whitfield created tension between Whitfield and Tichelaar in the days leading into the world championship.
Tichelaar was quoted as saying "the big dog gets his bone." Their relationship seemed to have thawed as Whitfield said he’d "had a beer" with Tichelaar after Sunday’s race.
"We both realize that our sport is too small for us not to be getting along," Tichelaar said. "Whatever disagreements we have, we’ll sort it out."
Vancouver’s Lauren Groves has already qualified for the Canadian women’s team. Her two teammates will be named at a later date. The Olympic women’s triathlon is Aug. 18.
