Andrea Whitcombe Blog: Olympic thoughts
I realise it’s a bit late to write a long explanation about the London Tri so I’ll just give a quick summary. I was disappointed to only finish 4th having won this race twice before. Unfortunately I just didn’t swim well enough to make the lead pack. It’s been a difficult time for swim training as the swim squad I train with have been at the National Champs and so for the 2 weeks leading into the race I swam by myself. Admittedly I find it pretty tough to swim without a group. I cycled hard and myself and Jodie Stimpson did the majority of the work to come into T2 two minutes down on the leader Julie Dibens. I ran well but just couldn’t quite do enough for third spot. Finishing 4th just about made up for the horrendous journey I had from Wales to London, which took over 6 hours in the car – no thanks to the overturned caravan on the M4!
Last week I spent 5 days of pure laziness, slobbing in front on the tv watching every bit of Olympic action possible. I love watching the Olympics – just a pity I couldn’t actually be in Beijing taking part.
Emma Snowsill, winner of the women’s triathlon was superb. I think it’s fair to say the British results were disappointing. I feel gutted to read that an athlete’s main aim is London 2012. What about Beijing 2008?! I was desperate to race in Beijing for a medal not for experience.
Here are a few great quotes said during the Olympics:
Brendan Foster angry at the lack of middle/long distance running success: “I’m sick of hearing about promising youngsters that never quite make it……we need to look at the people in charge.”
(Mmmmm…..)
The BBC’s Matt Chiltern commentating during the men’s triathlon race: “Tim Don’s fans will be glad to hear that his first transition only took 26 seconds, one of the fastest.”
(unfortunately there aren’t any medals for transition times!)
Matt Chiltern commentating nearing the end of the women’s triathlon race: “If she (Emma Snowsill) doesn’t stop celebrating she might not break the two hour mark.”
(as if that would have tarnished her gold medal!)
August 21st, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Nice to hear you are relaxing at last.
Youth has to be brought on but with the experienced ones alongside, unfortunately the experience was not there when required.
I think those that went to Beijing should be very, very grateful to you and one other to have gained the places which allowed them to go.
Rest and get rid of that injury because in 2009 we want to see again the quality, excitement and emotions which an’experienced triathlete’ like you brings to the events.
‘Simply The Best’
August 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
While I think we should be thinking about 2012, I think that all athletes in Beijing should have been thinking about was getting a medal in Beijing.
To say that this was just for the experience was a cop out, and they just took a place of someone who would have been totaly focused on the job at hand. All the triathletes that went were great athletes and sickness cant be helped but when you have the choice of youth over experience its experience every time.
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
It is disappointing to hear a great athlete be so disparaging of younger athletes who have qualified fair and square. To suggest you could have gone for a medal is denying the reality. The best triathletes we had went but they were not good enough on the day. No others would have done any better.
We need to raise technical standards across the board and sometimes that means doing as British Cycling has done, which is to concentrate on those who have the ability and desire, not those who just want to turn up for the vest.
You have been and still are a great athlete and should look to support and inspire those who will achieve in 2012. They do/did look up to you.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I can’t imagine how frustrating it must have been to see athletes drop out of the Olympics and to then hear them say that it didn’t matter because 2012 is their main goal!
Why does the British triathlon team always seem to take ill or injured athletes to the Olympics?
October 29th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I would like to respond to the so-called ‘british triathlon fan’s’ comment. To suggest that you couldnt have gone for a medal is negative and completely over-looks the fact that it you earned one of the olympic places this year. Without your hard work this year, team GB would have had one less place on the womens team.
Well done on coming third at last weekend’s World Cup - if this isnt proof that you would have been in with a chance at the olympics then I dont know what is!
All in all I couldnt agree more with your blog and would like to wish you all the best the future.