Triathlon: Making a splash to be No 1

By CHRIS RATTUE

Triathletes dipped their toes in the Olympic waters in Sydney yesterday, but not before a pre-race spat involving New Zealand ace Hamish Carter.

The sport makes its Olympic debut on Saturday morning when the 48-strong women's field, including Wellington's Evelyn Williamson, set off from in front of the Sydney Opera House.

The men and women swam practice laps in wetsuits in the cold waters yesterday after registering for their position on the starting pontoon.

The top 15 men can pick their positions in seeding order but that led to a dispute over who was ranked No 1 in the world, Carter or Dimitriy Gaag, of Kazakhstan.

Gaag, who like Carter is 29 and started triathlons relatively late in life in his early 20s, was given No 1 ranking and first pontoon pick.

New Zealand argued that Carter was No 1. They did not get first pontoon pick, but apparently got recognition of Carter's true position as Gaag only edged ahead of him briefly during the year. But, Gaag was still ranked at No 1 on the pontoon draw.

"It was a matter of pride. And it is important Hamish gets the acknowledgment of his position," said New Zealand coach Jack Ralston.

Ralston described Williamson, Auckland's Carter and the Christchurch pair of Craig Watson and Ben Bright, as like "skittery horses" dealing with pre-race tensions.

Carter is the most skittish, declining interview requests before his race on Sunday, although he allowed himself to be photographed in front of the opera house.

"No interviews, I'm here to race," he said before heading into the water.

The use of wetsuits in 16 deg water will help the weaker swimmers because they lift the body into a better position.

But, Bright said: "The water is quite lumpy so you've still got to be a strong swimmer.

"I like the course and traditionally New Zealanders have done well here."

Australia are expected to dominate the women's race and have the two highest-ranked triathletes in Michellie Jones and Loretta Harrop.

Despite his world ranking of No 7, Great Britain's Simon Lessing is most people's tip in the men's race.

The 29-year-old Lessing's ranking dips because he does not enter a lot of races, choosing to pick events.

"Simon Lessing would have to be named favourite because he's won five world championships and always brings it out on the day at big events," Watson said.

"But you never know. I think it's quite open. None of us have ever been to the Olympics before and none of us have had that pressure on us. That will be the telling factor."

Watson described the Olympics experience as awesome but also took time to remember the pioneers of the sport.

"Most athletes, or when you're a kid playing sport, dream of going to the Olympic Games," he said.

"You get here and go to the village and see all these great athletes in all different shapes and sizes.

"It's amazing. We're fortunate triathlons have been included at the right time for us.

"There are guys who got the sport on the map but their time has gone and they missed out. Hopefully we make it a good spectacle so it can carry on for the future."

That theme is carried on by Williamson, the world No 29, whose hero is great New Zealand triathlete Erin Baker.

Like Watson and Carter, Williamson trained at altitude in Switzerland before timing the descent 22 days before competition.

Bright stayed in Christchurch and used an altitude simulator, which gives short bursts of oxygen starvation similar to conditions at 6000m, much higher than St Moritz where the rest of the New Zealand squad trained.

Bright, the 1994 junior world junior champion, wanted to train on familiar terrain but could not afford the Swiss trip.

The introduction of the Sports Foundation high performance units, which has seen the triathlon academy disappear, created a cash hiccup.

Carter has sponsorship, but world No 18 Watson and Williamson largely paid for themselves. Bright, ranked 71, could not afford to travel.

The money issue has caused some unease but for the moment, the triathletes' thoughts are on the chance to win a medal.