Goodwill Games

02/08/2001

Top Triathletes Named in 2001 Goodwill Games Field

PLEASE NOTE: PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
1998 Goodwill Games New York champion Loretta Harrop and triathlon race director Garth Prowd are available for interview or photographs in Brisbane today. See end for contact details.

New York '98 Goodwill Games champion Loretta Harrop and Olympic silver medallist Michellie Jones will lead Australia's charge in the 2001 Goodwill Games Triathlon in Brisbane later this year.

Goodwill Games officials today announced all five triathlon medallists from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, who are actively competing this season, have accepted invitations to compete in Brisbane during the 12-day sporting extravaganza.

Along with Loretta and Michellie, other athletes committed to compete are men's Olympic champion Simon Whitfield (CAN), silver medallist Stefan Vuckovich (GER) and 1994 and 1998 defending Goodwill Games Triathlon Champion and four time world champion, Simon Lessing.

Olympic Bronze medallist Jan Rehula (CZE) had also accepted an invitation to compete. However his participation will depend on his recovery from injuries sustained while training in Sydney. Jan, who spends a significant part of the year in Australia, has trained with New York '98 Goodwill Games Gold Medallist Loretta Harrop.

The women's field also will include Olympic champion Brigette McMahon (SUI). Olympic bronze medallist in Sydney, Megali Messmer (SUI) has retired.

Triathlon, one of two Goodwill sports free to the public, will be staged in the heart of Brisbane's CBD.

Athletes will compete for a total prize purse of $200,000 (USD) to be divided equally between the men's and women's competitions. Of that amount, $100,000 will be divided amongst the top ten winners in each competition.

The first place male and female champions will each receive $30,000 (USD), second place champions will each receive $21,000 (USD) and the third place champions will each receive $15,000.

The remainder of the cash prize purse will be divided as follows: $10,000 (USD) for 4th place, $8,000 (USD) for 5th place, $6,000 for 6th place, $4,000 (USD) for 7th place, $3,000 (USD) for 8th place, $2,000 (USD) for 9th place and $1,000 (USD) for 10th place.

The men's and women's Triathlon field will each consist of 25 competitors. Along with the Olympic medallists and reigning Goodwill Games champions, invitations will be extended to the three highest International Triathlon Union (ITU) ranked men and women from the host country Australia and the USA, in addition to those already prequalified, based on ITU rankings, as of July 14th, 2001.

Invitations also will be extended to the top 12 ITU ranked athletes in the world, the 2001 ITU World Champions and two wild card entries per gender selected by Games organisers.

``We are very excited to have the biggest names in triathlon already committed to compete at the 2001 Goodwill Games,'' American-based Goodwill Games Inc president Mike Plant said.

``The South Bank precinct in Brisbane will make a wonderful backdrop for the competition. We are proud of our history with the sport of Triathlon and look forward to what will certainly be a memorable competition.''

2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane Chief Executive Campbell Rose said confirmation all of the top athletes presently qualified to compete in Triathlon would come to Brisbane helped to build excitement for what will be a tremendous competition.

``The presence of these elite champions on the Goodwill Games field will make for an exciting competition that is sure to draw thousands of spectators to the streets of Brisbane,'' Mr Rose said.

``The fact Australians feature so prominently will be an extra boon for the crowds.''

The 2001 Goodwill Games will feature 14 sports over 12 days off competition. Along with Triathlon, the Goodwill Games will host an elite field of competitors in Athletics, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling (track), Diving, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Swimming, Surf Lifesaving, Trampoline, and Weightlifting.

The 1994 Goodwill Games was the first major international multi-sport event to feature Triathlon as part of its competition.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Janet England, 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane +61 7 3233 2088 / 0412 334 937
Nikki Todd, 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane +61 7 3233 2045 / 0408 011 204
Tim Wilson, Executive Director, Triathlon Australia +61 2 6285 4802
Jeff Pomeroy, Goodwill Games, Inc. + 1 404 827 4786
B.J. Hoeptner, USA Triathlon + 1 719 597 1013

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