Sanders and Findlay named to PTO Board
The Professional Triathletes Organisation have named four more board members, including Canadians Lionel Sanders and Paula Findlay.
The Professional Triathletes Organisation has added four athletes to its board, including Canadians Lionel Sanders and Paula Findlay, along with two-time Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee and Ironman European champion Skye Moench, who is American but was born in Canada.
Brownlee, who had focused on long-distance racing for much of the time since his Olympic win in Rio, has said that he’s in the hunt for a spot on the start line in Tokyo this year. He’ll balance that quest with his work on the board:
“I am very pleased to be joining the PTO Board and am grateful for all the work done by the existing board members in establishing the organisation,” he said in a press release sent out today. “I look forward to contributing to the vision of the PTO as we seek to support and work with all the stakeholders in the triathlon community.”
Both Sanders and Findlay expressed their excitement about being part of the PTO.
“Really excited about serving on the PTO Board,” Sanders said. “It is fantastic to have an organisation of our own so that as a group we can support the sport. Triathlon has enriched my life in so many ways, and I know it can do the same for others. I believe the professional side still has a lot of room to grow and have a larger impact on the world. I am excited to work with the other members of the PTO Board on making this a reality.”
“It is an honour to be able to serve as a PTO Board Member, as professionals begin to contribute our collective voice to the sport,” Findlay said. “While we are only just beginning, there are so many wonderful opportunities to explore.”
A former accountant, Moench left her job to pursue a pro triathlon career in 2016. Last year she won the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt in dramatic fashion when Sarah True collapsed 800 m from the finish line. Moench was unable to compete in Kona, though, after a bike crash waylaid the rest of her 2019 season.
“Very grateful for the opportunity to serve on the PTO Board,” Moench said. “Part of the beauty of our sport is that there is a path from age-grouper to professional, and now with the PTO, there is an opportunity to join forces and serve with athletes who have incredible experience in the sport, including a two-time Olympic gold medallist. There is no sport like our’s, and I look forward to preserving and growing this legacy with my fellow PTO members.”
