Athlete Profiles

KOALA MEMBER SINCE: year/franchise (ie. Burlington Koala, Edmonton Koala)
  Waterdown Koala since 2010

CAREER/SCHOOLING: What do you do for a living, or where do you go to school.
  Working on a career, UoGuelph History/English major, Queen’s BEd

BIO: A brief description of the how and why you are in triathlon.
  After watching every event in the Beijing Olympics I thought I’d make a lifestyle change where instead of watching sport I’d try to live it. Since the summer of 2008, I have tried to practice the sport and lifestyle of triathlon. The journey so far has been very rewarding.

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Could be from any sport including tri result, an age group wins, personal bests you have done.
Was happy with 2010 all-round with tons of PB’s, Beijing qualifying spot, Niagara running series win and Ontario triathlon series win.
 

SPORT HERO: Lance Armstrong, after his bout with cancer when he had a choice between a cushiony 1.5 million dollar insurance payout or risk everything to return to cycling, guess what he chose?
 
SHORT TERM GOALS: What do you plan to accomplish this year or next?

• Better my times at all the triathlons/duathlons I did last year.

• Run faster than 18min for 5km and 38min for 10km

• Have a respectable race in Beijing at the AG World Championships.

LONG TERM GOALS: What to you hope to accomplish 5-10 years from now?

• 1 ITU point

• Help to spread the sport of triathlon

• Represent Canada again at a World Championship

KOALA SINCE: 2009 (Burlington)

CAREER:  Commercial Real Estate Investment/Development and Management

BIO: Started triathlon at 42.  Trying to prove you CAN actually teach an old dog new tricks !!!!  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Completed 9 career Tri-s.  PB's in 2010 at Half iron and Olympic Distance (OK,,,they were my first ones at that distance!!)

HERO:  Amateur athletes who dedicate themselves to be the best in the world in sports for the sheer love and glory of their sport when there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (Jon Montgomery Exhibit 1A)

SHORT TERM GOALS:  To be faster at 45 than I was at 44.

LONG TERM GOALS:  To be faster at 46 than I was at 45.  Never stop working to improve in all aspects of life. "One day of practice is like one day of clean living.  It doesn't do you any good" Abe Lemmons

KOALA MEMBER SINCE: 2008/Hamilton
 
CAREER/SCHOOLING: Entrepreneur
 
BIO: I started triathlons after a 9 year career in swimming. Triathlons was a natural fit for me. I raced to the best of my ability and as an elite until 2004 when I realized that I had limits in my ability and would never reach the Olympics. At that point I went back to school for business, and switched back to an age grouper. I now race as a hobby and for the love of fitness and the sport.
 
 
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 
11-Time National Triathlon Team Member (2000-2011)
5-Time World Championship Canadian Coach (2007-2011)
5-Time Ontario Triathlon Series Age Group Champion (2006-2010)
4-Time World Championship Age Group Medalist (2004-2005, 2009-2010)
3-Time National Age Group Champion (2005-2007)
2007 Triathlon Canada (Athlete of the Year) for age group athletes
2002 Elite Provincial Champion
PB in Olympic: 1:55 (2002 in Victoria, BC)
PB in Half IM: 4:01 (2008 in Montreal PQ)

SPORT HERO:
Mat: Terry Fox
 
 
SHORT TERM GOALS: Medal at the 2011 ITU LC Worlds in Nevada, win my AG in the Ontario Triathlon Series, break 4 hours in the Montreal Esprit Demi-Half.

 
LONG TERM GOALS: Stay healthy, uninjured and continue to enjoy the sport. Put myself in a better position in my age group to get a Gold Medal at Age Group Worlds.

KOALA MEMBER SINCE: 2008/Waterdown
 
CAREER/SCHOOLING: Student: teachers College
 
BIO: I have been a life long athlete since grade school. I competed on a local swim team and did a few triathlons as a child. I didn't get more seriuos until 2008 when I joined the Fighting Koalas. Now I race and train as a healthy lifestyle, and I will teach my daughter the healthy benifits of activity and fun.
 
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 

2009 Canadian National Team Member
5-Time Age Group Winner in Half Ironmans
2010 Canadian LC National Age Group Champion
 
SPORT HERO:
Lisa Bentley
 
SHORT TERM GOALS: Get back to racing and be competitive by theend of summer.
 
LONG TERM GOALS: Compete in a few Ironmans and do the Ironman Hawaii. Race locally and internationally.

KOALA MEMBER SINCE:  (Waterdown) 2009 July

CAREER:  Design Manager

BIO: A brief description of the how and why you are in triathlon.
Have been an actively involved in cycling all my life. I raced 250cc GP motorcycles in my mid twenties I have been running in 2003. In 2007 I competed in a few duathlons and discovered how strong my cycling skills were. My duathlon racing exposed me to Triathlon and the desire to add swimming to my training program. I completed my first Triathlon (Bala Falls) in 2009.

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
 2010 Wasaga Beach Olympic Tri - 1st Place AG
2010 Lakeside Olympic Tri - 3rd Place AG
2010 Niagara Sprint Tri - 4th Place AG.
Qualified for Boston Marathon 2010- 3:29

SPORT HERO: I have no real sport hero. Any average athlete who dreams big, sets lofty goals and dedicates them self to a healthy lifestyle and achieving their goals is a hero of mine.

SHORT TERM GOALS: What do you plan to accomplish this year or next?
 I have dedicated myself to Sprint and Olympic distance racing for 2011/2012 with the goal of finishing on the podium with consistency. Will be competing in my first Off Road Tri in 2011. I am hoping to successfully register for the 2012 Boston Marathon

LONG TERM GOALS: What to you hope to accomplish 5-10 years from now?

First Ironman - 2013 IM Canada, qualifying for the IM Worlds in Kona and the Xterra Off Road Worlds.

KOALA MEMBER SINCE:
 Since the beginning! Waterdown franchise
CAREER/SCHOOLING:
 Grade 11 at Westdale Secondary School
BIO:
  I’m in triathlon because I started at a young age and as I’ve stuck with it, it’s become part of my lifestyle. It keeps me in shape and I’ve maintained many relationships with people in the sport.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Was second in the under 19 women’s Subaru sprint series in 2010.

• Competed in the Ontario Summer Games twice.

SPORT HERO:
  Paula Findlay …who else wins races with only one contact in?

SHORT TERM GOALS: What do you plan to accomplish this year or next?
  -To be faster at my races and set new PB’s
- win the 2011 Subaru sprint series for my age group

LONG TERM GOALS: What to you hope to accomplish 5-10 years from now?

-To compete at worlds and still be active and training on a regular basis

SPORT HERO: Your sport hero.

Without question, Terry Fox! Each time I finish a long run or race and I'm sore, I think about what an absolutely amazing athlete Terry was.