temporary site move to www.whatmyphonesaw.com

I'm having fun with my cell phone camera and since it's "100 days to go" I thought I may as well see where this leads.

For now I'm posting on www.whatmyphonesaw.com

We shall see how long it lasts but for now it has my attention and it's something to distract me from a) missing my children and b) allows me to feel somewhat creative (a very relative term when I see how incredibly creative some people are...).

The idea was/is to have Canadian Olympians, prospective Olympians, support staff (like our wonderful physio Mariyln) and coaches post their "phones eye view" from their travels, adventures, misadventures and lives in general as they pursue their Olympic dreams.

If you fit into that description and want to contribute go to

www.whatmyphonesaw.com/submit

One of my sporting heroes CLARA HUGHES was the first "guest poster", she's posted a photo of a bobcat prowling her backyard in Parkcity Utah, check it out at

http://whatmyphonesaw.com/post/7805432568/what-my-phone-saw-a-bobcat-in-my-high-altitude


I hope you enjoy,


Simon

just as the title of my blog says; to me, high level success is achieved through "the relentless pursuit of".

Simon Whitfield on Paula Findlay and the relentless pursuit of excellence

July 8, 2011. 7:40 pm • Section: Sweatsox

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Posted by:

John MacKinnon

RECENT POSTS FROM THIS AUTHOR

• Simon Whitfield on Paula Findlay and the relentless pursuit of excellencePosted on Jul 8, 2011
• Sports Homecomings Often Better in Theory Than PracticePosted on Jun 21, 2011
• Paula Findlay Makes it Three in a Row, A Record Five WCS Victories in AllPosted on Jun 19, 2011
• Paula Findlay, Triathlon’s New StarPosted on Jun 10, 2011

Edmonton triathlete Paula Findlay ponders a plunge into the pond at Hawrelak Park on Friday. The No. 1-ranked triathlete in the world races on Sunday in the 2011 ITU Edmonton Triathlon World Cup.

Paula Findlay is, far and away, the star of the show this weekend as the ITU World Cup circuit makes a stop in Edmonton for the first time since a 10-year run of events here came to an end in 2007.

No one recognizes the 22-year-old Findlay’s star power more than veteran Canadian male triathlete Simon Whitfield, Canada’s first star in the sport.

The two-time Olympic medalist (gold in Sydney in 2000; silver in Beijing in 2008) spoke glowingly about Findlay at a pre-race news conference on Friday.

“I’m very, very proud that Paula has done what she is doing, showcasing this City of Champions the way she is,” Whitfield said of Findlay, who has won three straight World Championship Series races this season and five of the last six, dating back to 2010. “You see a real unique thing about Edmonton in that this Edmontonian does well and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

“There are a lot of cities that have great champions in amateur sport and it kind of goes unnoticed. And yet, Edmonton has this speedy redhead, the city meets her at the airport and 20,000 are going to show up and watch her on the weekend.

“I think it’s a real tribute to the city of Edmonton, the City of Champions.”

Not to mention a tribute to the appeal of Findlay.

Asked whether the young Edmontonian has a ‘responsibility’ to be the new face of the sport in Canada, to assume the mantle that Whitfield has carried for so many years.

“To an extent, yes, that come with the territory,” Whitfield said.  “We have this great, grassroots sport that kids can get into and parents can be fit and active and take their kids to the weekend triathlons. The grassroots of our sport is really special.

“Paula does have a responsibility, it comes with the territory, of promoting our sport to young kids to active and non-active adults. I think she’s going to embrace that. She’s done a great job already.”

Whitfield didn’t hesitate when he was asked the similarities between himself and Findlay as elite triathletes: “Oh, it’s easy. I believe it’s relentless pursuit of (excellence). She relentlessly pursues success in her sport and I relentlessly pursued it and pursue it now, in the present tense.

“People keep saying to me, ‘What’s the secret of Paula?’ There’s no secret. She works incredibly hard, she’s focused, she has dedicated coaching and you can sum that up by saying she’s engaged in the relentless pursuit of (excellence).”

Asked where the next Simon Whitfield is going to come from, Whitfield said: “Men’s racing is really hard. There are a number of young athletes coming up and when one of them figures out how to relentlessly pursue it, they will be successful.

“I’m not quite sure yet that they know what that means.”

Findlay certainly knows, of that there is no doubt.

Tags:

ITU Triathlon,

Olympics,

Paula Findlay,

Simon Whitfield

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