Triathlon Magazine Canada Podcast: Pan Ams are Here

Triathlon became part of the Pan American Games in 1995, a huge coup for the sport that wouldn’t be included in the Olympics for another five years. Since that first Pan Am competition Canadian athletes have become a mainstay on the podium.

At that inagural race in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Mark Bates and Kirstie Otto both took silver medals, Fiona Cribb won bronze and Lisa Bentley signaled her bright international future with a sixth place finish. Four years later Simon Whitfield took bronze, as did Carol Montgomery, but it was Sharon Donnelly who sent the Winnipeg crowd into a frenzy with her gold medal performance.

Jill Savege continued Canada’s winning ways in 2003, while Brent McMahon and Lauren Groves took silver and bronze respectively in 2007. McMahon took bronze in 2011, edging out countryman Kyle Jones for the final medal.

In this week’s podcast Triathlon Magazine Canada’s Kevin Mackinnon catches up with race announcer Steve Fleck and discuss the importance and impact the games are likely to have on the sport.

(Photo: Tyler Mislawchuk will represent Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games.)