THE BIG QUESTION:
What moment in triathlon history stands out for you?
 


The 1989 Ironman World Championship when Mark Allen was finally able to dethrone six-time champion Dave Scott in a closely battled race that was determined by less than a minute.
— Matt Nguyen, 31,
San Luis Obispo, Calif.


I will never forget my first triathlon — Ironman Kona, Feb. 14, 1981. At 19, I competed with my father and was interviewed by Arthur Ashe, who was working for Wide World of Sports. The city of Kona treated all of us like celebrities. Most triathletes were extremely supportive of each other, even Olympic cyclist John Howard, who won that year. Cowman was allowed to race with his bullhorns and last-place finishers were two men — 70-something legend Walt Stack and a Japanese national who at the awards banquet said, “I die.”
— Jean Wilkinson-Rodney, 49,
Albuquerque, N.M.


Challenged athlete Paul Martin finishing Ironman Coeur d’Alene, raising his prosthetic leg above his head and yelling, “I am an Ironman!” That moment inspired me to turn life challenges into opportunities and follow in Paul’s footsteps by competing in triathlon, marathon and soon, Ironman, as a Challenged Athlete! He taught me to Run With It!
— Nick Roumonada, 33,
Seattle, Wash.


The moment that strikes me the most is the year that Chrissie Wellington went from obscurity to [Ironman] champion. She came out and raced with all she had with the poise and grace that triathlon was built on.
— Brian Fite, 47,
Fulton, N.Y.


I’d have to say the moment in triathlon history that stands out for me is the 2000 Olympic Games. Triathlon made its debut and was accepted with a standing ovation. I remember racing at the Santa Rosa Triathlon in Pensacola Beach a few weeks later, and Michellie Jones came down to race with us. I remember talking with her and she was just so stoked for winning the silver at Sydney in her home country. How awesome that had to be!
— Casey Fannin, 51,
Birmingham, Ala.


Being relatively new to triathlon (2.5 years), I have a limited knowledge of some of our sport’s greatest moments. But I would think that Craig Alexander’s third Ironman World Championship victory last year after being outwitted and ganged up on by Macca and several others the year before, is inspiring. Oh and breaking the course record wasn’t too shabby either!
— Jeff Martindale, 37,
Edgewater, Fla.


Sister Madonna Buder “Iron nun” proves that age doesn’t matter in this sport by being the oldest female Ironman at age 79, and she shares her faith while doing it.
— Cindy Reeves, 39,
Houston, Texas


 


THE NEXT BIG QUESTION:
What is your all-time favorite Olympic moment? Send your response (60 words or fewer) to communications@usatriathlon.org by May 15. Remember to include your name, age, hometown and put “Big Question” in the subject line.


82 USA TRIATHLON SPRING 2012

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