http://www.triathlon.org/news/ en fergus.murray@triathlon.org Copyright 2010 2010-03-12T21:50:18+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/get_ready_for_the_2010_season/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/get_ready_for_the_2010_season/#When:18:15:12Z Click ‘play’ to get a taste of the fast-paced racing action set to take place throughout the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series. Now in its second year, the Series will pit the world’s fastest triathletes in head-to-head races in seven iconic cities around the globe. With a year-end bonus pool of $250,000 and $150,000 up for grabs at each event, the stakes are high in the battle to become ITU’s 2010 World Champion. The 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series kicks off in Sydney on April 11, with races to follow in Seoul, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Kitzbuhel and Budapest. This season’s ITU World Champions will be crowned at the Grand Final in Budapest on September 11-12. Live video will be available, free of charge, at all seven Series events on triathlon.org/tv. On-demand highlights and feature videos will also be made available throughout the year. 2010 Series Schedule • 11 April 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Sydney, Australia • 8 May 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Seoul, Republic of Korea • 5-6 June 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Madrid, Spain • 17-18 July 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Hamburg, Germany • 24-25 July 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London, United Kingdom • 14-15 August 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Kitzbühel, Austria • 8-12 September 2010 - Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Grand Final Budapest, Hungary Age Group, Events, World Championship Series, ITU 2010-03-11T18:15:12+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/appointment_of_the_otu_technical_liaison_juliet_fahey/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/appointment_of_the_otu_technical_liaison_juliet_fahey/#When:19:05:37Z Oceanina Triathlon Union has appointed Juliet Fahey from New Zealand as the OTU Technical Liaison. The voluntary position forms part of the changes put forward for strategic planning and reporting of OTU to bring them in line with the structure of other continental federations. The appointment is expected to further engage technical officials to officiate at events in island federations for their own experience and to guide emerging technical officials. Fahey is a ITU Level 2 certification holder as well as a member of the Board of Triathlon New Zealand.  She was also elected as Vice President of the Oceania Triathlon Union last year.  She has extensive experience at a large number of events over seven years both within and outside of New Zealand with some experience of small Pacific country triathlon activities, including ITU Technical Course held in September 2009 in the Cook Islands. For any technical official matters in the Oceania region, please contact with her email address at Regions, Oceania 2010-03-16T19:05:37+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_sport_development_coordinator_for_oceania/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_sport_development_coordinator_for_oceania/#When:17:09:15Z General: The International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the Oceania Triathlon Union (OTU) are looking for a part-time or project-based person with the ability to promote the development of the sport of triathlon and related multi-sports in the Oceania region. The ITU Sport Development Coordinator will work under the direction of ITU Sport Development and will provide the OTU Council with quarterly updates. The successful candidate will also have the skills and abilities to assist potential and new affiliate members in Oceania with the basic functional roles of a national federation. The person must have a sound knowledge of sport in general, the international and regional triathlon structures (including the interaction with Olympic and other sport structures) as well as basic national federation governance requirements and financial control measures. Job Description: WORK WITH: the OTU Council to ensure a strong organisational structure is in place that respects and understands the principles of good governance; all affiliated National Federations to ensure each federation is operating at capacity and under a good governance model; the ITU Staff to ensure the Oceania programs are in line with the ITU programs, rules and procedures; WORK IN THE AREA OF: Administration, Finance and Legal (AFL): Manage the delivery of the ITU Triathlon Tool Box especially in the areas of Communications, Administration, Legal and Finance. The Tool Box facilitates the first steps in the establishment of new National Federations with clear guidance on how to become recognized by ITU and OTU; Implement the 2010 OTU Strategic Plan and prepare an annual progress report for the OTU and ITU Congresses; Manage the OTU-ITU Sport Development budget with assistance from the ITU Manager of Finance and Legal; Manage the event contracts for all event disciplines in cooperation with the OTU Council, OTU Technical Liaison, and the ITU Event Administration Manager; Events: Manage the event calendar planning for all continental event disciplines in cooperation with the OTU Council, OTU Technical Liaison and the ITU Technical Operations Manager; Manage the technical operations including but not limited to the Technical Delegate assignments for all continental event disciplines assigned by the ITU Events Department in cooperation with the OTU Technical Liaison; Manage the communication for all continental event disciplines including pre- and post releases, photos and results in... ITU, Jobs, Regions, Oceania, Federations, Sport Development 2010-03-15T17:09:15+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/frodeno_snowsill_attend_laureus_world_sports_awards/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/frodeno_snowsill_attend_laureus_world_sports_awards/#When:15:07:44Z 2008 Olympic Triathlon gold medallists Jan Frodeno of Germany and Emma Snowsill of Australia were in attendance at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on March 10. The pair joined ITU Vice President Bill Walker and Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Managing Director Paul Coleman in honouring the top sports performers of 2009. “It’s fantastic for triathlon to be strongly represented at the Laureus World Sports Awards,” Coleman said. “Hopefully triathletes will have a chance to compete for top honours in this very special event in the not too distant future.” The Laureus World Sports Awards is recognised as the premier honours event in the international sporting calendar and the awards ceremony provides a high profile focus as stars of the sporting world come together to salute the finest sportsmen and sportswomen of the year. The winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury—the 46 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the great athletes of today. The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards winners are: Sportsman: Usain Bolt, Jamaica (Track & Field) Sportswoman: Serena Williams, United States (Tennis) Team: Brawn GP F1 (Formula 1 Car Racing) Comeback: Kim Clijsters, Belgium (Tennis) Disability: Natalie du Toit, South Africa (Swimming) Action Sportsperson: Stephanie Gilmore, Australia (Surfing) Lifetime Achievement: Nawal El Moutawakel, Morocco (Track & Field) Sport for Good: Dikembe Mutumbo, United States (Basketball) For more on the Laureus World Sports Awards please visit laureus.com/awards/2010 Athletes, ITU 2010-03-15T15:07:44+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/triathlon_essentials_17_perfecting_the_foot_strike/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/triathlon_essentials_17_perfecting_the_foot_strike/#When:14:40:25Z In this week’s Triathlon Essentials training video we look at methods of developing a proper foot strike on the run. Many novice runners land on their heels with each strike, forcing the body to brake each time the foot touches the ground. Watch these elite athletes on the run and pay extra attention to the way their feet land on the ground. Notice that the fastest runners land on their mid-foot, gently tapping the ground with each stride. Perfecting this type of stride can take time, so be patient and remember to stay relaxed while you run! Age Group, Events, World Championship Series, ITU 2010-03-15T14:40:25+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/vidal_hewitt_win_in_wellington/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/vidal_hewitt_win_in_wellington/#When:15:14:31Z Andrea Hewitt and Laurent Vidal are partners in life and shared the titles in Wellington today at the final round of the Contact Tri Series with national standard distance and ITU Oceania honours on the line. Hewitt (New Zealand) and Vidal (France) won their respective races (albeit Vidal is not eligible as a Frenchman to claim the New Zealand or Oceania titles), in similar style, each overcoming world-class opposition in the final stages of the 10km run in blustery conditions in the capital. Vidal kicked clear first of Australian Peter Robertson early in the run and then Kiwi Kris Gemmell at the eight kilometre mark while Hewitt shook Nicky Samuels and then Debbie Tanner to claim her first national title. The key moment in the women’s race occurred late on the bike however, when Nicky Samuels, Debbie Tanner and Hewitt broke clear of a group of three others, including Wellington’s Kate McIlroy. The world-class trio led by 52 seconds heading into the run and from that point the others were chasing the minor money. Hewitt proved the strongest in front of thousands who lined Oriental Parade and was delighted to claim her first national title in tough conditions. “I am really, really happy with that today. It is my first Olympic distance race this year so this is great. Conditions were tough, the wind was in our faces on the way out but great on the way back each lap on the bike and the run. Hewitt explained the surprising move on the bike when it looked as though a lead group of eight would stay together. “It was on the last lap on the bike and Nicky went for it into the wind, first no one followed but then Debbie and I went and we got a gap on the rest and hung on and then took some turns to make that lead bigger.” Hewitt knew that it was to be a good day for both her and Vidal. “I felt strong on the run and made a move to get a good gap on Debbie. It was around that time when we crossed with a couple of laps to go I saw Laurent just after he had put a gap on Kris so had a pretty good idea he had held on to win.” The day was a tough one though for Samuels, the Wanaka triathlete had suffered a cut to her foot during the run, caused by the lining of her shoe. Samuels removed the shoe and bravely ran on barefoot through the pain only to be penalized one minute upon finishing. Under ITU rules a triathlete cannot compete barefoot at any time during the run leg. Fortunately for Samuels the one minute penalty saw her still finish third in the elite... Events, Continental Championships, ITU 2010-03-13T15:14:31+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/take_a_run_with_bevan_docherty/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/take_a_run_with_bevan_docherty/#When:21:02:40Z Need a little extra motivation to get out there and run this time of year? Take a look at this unique training video sent in by ITU superstar (and two-time Olympic medallist) Bevan Docherty of New Zealand. Follow along as Docherty takes you on a tour of the beautiful trails near his home training base of Santa Cruz, California. Enjoy the run! Athletes, ITU 2010-03-12T21:02:40+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/washington_dc_age_group_results/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/washington_dc_age_group_results/#When:20:50:18Z As the official event website is no longer hosted by the local organising committe the full Age Group results may now be accessed here. Apologies for the inconvience caused. 2010-03-12T20:50:18+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/spain_to_reform_anti-doping_legislation/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/spain_to_reform_anti-doping_legislation/#When:22:53:36Z One of the fundamental pillars of anti-doping is that there is harmony within countries and sports in how rules are interpreted and applied. Therefore, it is important to note that it has been reported that Spain is to reform its anti-doping legislation to improve the cooperation between the courts and sports disciplinary bodies, Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky said. In an article written by Mark Elkington and edited by Pritha Sarkar for Reuters, it was reported that “it has been a contentious issue that the evidence uncovered in Spain’s anti-doping probe in 2006, known as Operacion Puerto, has not been made available to sporting bodies to decide upon possible punishments for sportsmen and women.” The investigating judge has ruled there was insufficient evidence to prosecute for the only relevant offence in Spain at that time, which was for endangering public health. “When doping cases arrive in the courts, sometimes they remain in a legal limbo,” Lissavetzky was quoted as saying in sports daily Marca on Tuesday.  “We will look for formulas that will allow greater flexibility in these cases. This reform will be in line with the world anti-doping code.” The ITU understands the need for harmonized rules and it can only benefit all athletes to have consistent ways of dealing with anti-doping violations. If you have a question about ITU’s Anti-doping programme, please contact the ITU Anti-doping Director at Anti-Doping, ITU 2010-03-11T22:53:36+00:00 http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/egyptian_triathlon_federation_officially_launches_in_cairo/ http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/egyptian_triathlon_federation_officially_launches_in_cairo/#When:22:44:40Z The Egyptian Triathlon Federation officially launched at a gala event in Cairo on March 2, 2010. ITU President and IOC member Marisol Casado was in attendance, along with Egypt’s two IOC members, General Mounir Sabit and Dr. Rania Elwani. In her address, President Casado stressed the importance of developing triathlon in Africa, and thanked Ahmed Nasser, President of the Egyptian Triathlon Federation, for the work he has done to grow triathlon in the region. Nasser stated that he was extremely pleased with the launch and reinforced that Egypt is ready to play a significant role in developing the sport in cooperation with the African Triathlon Union and other Arab countries in the region. The ETF hosted its first ever National Triathlon Championship on the day after the launch, coinciding with Egyptian National Sports Day. The event, which took place in Suez City, featured athletes from the military sporting clubs of Cairo, Ismailia, Alexandria, Menia and Suez. The Governor of Suez, Saief El-deen Gallal was on hand for the race and praised the success of the event.  Also present at the launch were Dr. Hassan Moustafa, President of the International Handball Federation (IHF); Khaled Zain, Secretary General of the Arican National Olympic Committees Association (ANOCA); Mr. Medhat El Beltagi, Deputy Minister of Sport in Egypt; Dr. Wafaa Salah El Deen of the Egyptian National Sports Council Board; Mr. Tarek Rashed, Vice Minister for Sport Competitions and Dr. Emad El Banay, Vice Minister for “Sport for All”. All attendees at the launch were treated to live music from Sameh Yossri, a famous Egyptian pop singer. ITU, Regions, Africa, Federations 2010-03-11T22:44:40+00:00