World Championships in three days....
World Championships in three days.... (September 7, 2005 )
Two of the greats of world triathlon, New Zealander Hamish Carter and American Barb Lindquist will race their final world triathlon championships in Gamagori, Japan, on Sunday.
Visit the Gamagori event page for the latest start lists and event details.
Carter won the Olympic gold medal in Athens with Lindquist a former world No.1 ranked athlete in the sport.
Lindquist plans to retire at the end of the season for a new career as a mother and coach.
Carter has indicated he wants to contest next year’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne but Sunday’s 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run championships will likely be his last world championship.
“”It will be my 13th. That’s a lot,’’ said Carter who is undecided whether he will campaign for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Arguably the best triathlon field ever assembled with race on Sunday with numerous world and Olympic champions competing in the men’s and women’s races.
Alongside Carter will be fellow New Zealander and current world champion Bevan Docherty and Sydney Olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfield (CAN).
The women’s field will be headed by Athens Olympic bronze medallist Susan Williams and an army of former world champions including 2004 titleholder Sheila Taormina (USA), 2003 champion Emma Snowsill (AUS), 2002 titleholder Leanda Cave (GBR) and 2000 titleholder Nicole Hackett (AUS).
European champion Vanessa Fernandes (POR) and Australian Annabel Luxford, the No.1 ranked athlete in the world currently, are also considered strong contenders for their first world championship title victory.
The men’s field is equally as impressive with Spain’s Ivan Rana, the 2002 world champion and silver medallist last year, one of the hot favourites along with inform American Hunter Kemper, Czech athlete Filip Ospaly, Swiss athlete Reto Hug and former duel world champion Peter Robertson (AUS).
Former world junior champion Tim Don (GBR) is also highly favoured along with Frenchman Fredric Belaubre.
Sunday’s race will be over the Olympic distance of a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.
Elite racing begins on Sunday 11th with the women’s race at 10.45 local time (02.45 London, 21.45 New York, 18.45 Vancouver and 11.45 Sydney). The men’s race takes place at 13.30. Prior to the elite race the junior men’s race will be held at 09.00 local time.
On Saturday 10th , the junior women will race at 09.00 prior to the under 23 women’s at 10.45 and men at 13.30.
The elite races will all be covered live here on triathlon.org with live video, text, timing, audio commentary and pictures.
Visit the Gamagori event page for the latest start lists and event details.
The ITU World Aquathlon Championships take place on Thursday at 19.00 local time. Results and images will be available on the auathlon event page.