Olympic Games

Historically the Olympics has never been kind to the favourite - not once has the favourite in the men's or women's event taken Gold and once again it was a great Olympic Games for triathlon. From an event experience it couldn't match Sydney where spectators lined the entire course 10 deep and that was in the back sections. Looking at the course, the area dedicated for seating was not completed and the grandstand seating that was completed was not full. So there was no raging crowd, however the racing was brilliant.

The women's event was all Emma Snowsill who was simply amazing and never challenged all day - race favourite Vanessa Fernandez from Portugal had not been showign the same form this year, finishing 10th at te World Championships and had been beaten by Snowsill at the World Cup in Mooloolaba. Off the bike the expected race for the line between the two did not eventuate as Fernandez struggled on and at one stage face the threat of missing a medal. her champion qualities came through and she came home strong for silver with Emma Moffat pacing herself well for the bronze as other medal contenders mis timed their charge to the line and fell short in the tough conditions.

With the women's race over, the historical record of no race favourite winnign and Olympics still in tact it was time for the men's event. For the first time in eight years our most accomplished medal winner, Peter Robertson (Robbo) was not there and we wated the event together. Knowing history I asked Robbo his tip - his reply was that Gomez wouldn't be on the podium. History was against him and he'd not faced guys in such tenacious forjm and also had the pressure on his back before as a favourite. My pick was a "bolter from the blue" to take out the win - but who that would be was anyone's guess. A bolter has won that an Olympic Games each time, Whitfield on 2000, Kate Allen in 2004 so chances were it would happen again as a mistake would be made and a gap opened for an opportunist to take.

That was out tip and we settled into the chairs for the next 2 hours or so. The swim was straigh forward and the bike, although a challenging course did not offer much excitement. Robbo had thought and wanted to see a break go - he's wion his World Championships that way and Athen's in 04 went that way as well however the course was not quite tough enough for it to happen and the field came into the run leg as a single group.

The first lap of the four run loops had everyone there and the steep hill heading back into the stadium was always going to be a break point and plenty fo good runners were not able to match the pace on the first lap after this point. The natural attrition rate had been accelerated and the major contenders who have consistently won medals before were all there - Docherty, Whitfield, Gomez and Rana and the pace now had everyone behind them in Indian file.

Heading into the stadium for the second time Rana laid down a surge on the hill that snapped the entire field. Rana, with a simil;ar race style to Robbo, was the only contender there capable of making an early charge for the line with a huge surge that no one could match but how good was his form? Gomez and Whitfield handled the charge and the pace eased back with Docherty clawing back to the group and finally Frenodo as well.

Passing the 5km mark, Gomez was always going to up the anti and try and slowly grind down the opposition but the nature of the course meant finding and sustaining a fater rythm was not possible due to the steep downhill and following undulations. Gomez tried with frustration but there was no impact and his charge, like compatriot Rana's had been netrualised and there was still 5 in contention and now the experience of Docherty (silver in Athens) and Whitfield (Gold in Sydney) would come through and the front four would start to look at each other and see what was left. Frenodo of Germany had never featured before and was having the race of his life. There was no pressure on him and he was not considered one to watch, however he had handled the charges the best and was sitting in.

Coming into the final hill, which is still a long way out, Rana was off the back a few meters and now out of contention with Whitfield pacing the final climb as Gomez, Docherty and Frendo cherged the hill. Coming over the hill, the thee had a drag race to the line and it looked as though Docherty had the cahnce as the best known sprint finisher as Gomez has never had to fight for a win. Sensing the pace was easing as no one was prepared to take the lead, Whitfile wound up his long run for home - which is his signatuer finish and quickly closed the gap and went through the final turn leading and darted to the line. Docherty couldn't close in, however Frenodo found another gear and chased Whitfield hard and forced him to keep going until break point. The German kept the pace going all the way to the line to win what was the most exciting race seen and keep the bolter from the blue history in tact.

An ideal race and the fact the favourite didn't win again is possibly a good thing for our sport as it keep dreams alive and shows what perserverence can achieve. I hope eveyone enjoyed the race as much as Robbo and I did.

Mark Newton

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