TRIATHLON OFFERS ATHLETES CHOICES.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer At age 27, Sheila Taormina Sheila Christine Taormina (born March 18, 1969 in Livonia, Michigan) is an American athlete, who competes in triathlon and swimming. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Taormina was a member of the gold medal women's 4x200 metre freestyle relay team. figured her athletic career was over. After winning a gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize and setting an Olympic record Olympic Records are the best performances in a specific event in that event's history in either the Summer Olympic Games or the Winter Olympic Games. As the Olympics occur only once every four years, many of these records do not correspond with world records, though they are in the 800-meter freestyle relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she was content with her career. She became a motivational speaker A motivational speaker is a professional speaker, facilitator or trainer who speaks to audiences, usually for a fee. The keynote speech generally takes place either at the beginning of the event, or the close of the event. , traveling the country with her company Taormina and Associates. But after a year on the road, she wanted to get back in shape. Two years later, she was an Olympian again, winning the U.S. Olympic Trials to qualify for the inaugural Olympic triathlon in Sydney. Now, at the age of 35, Taormina, is the reigning World Champion and leading medal contender at the Athens Olympics. Her story may sound unique, inspirational even. But in the nascent sport of triathlon, it's hardly uncommon. Her United States teammate, Barb Lindquist, also came to triathlon status by way of swimming. Lindquist, a two-time national champion, also was an elite swimmer before she became a triathlete tri·ath·lete n. One who competes in a triathlon. . As a member of the U.S. swim team, Lindquist won silver medals in the 400-meter freestyle at the 1987 Pan Am Games and the 1989 Pan Pacific Championships. At the 1991 Pan Am Games, she won a gold in the 800-meter freestyle relay. At Stanford her teammates included Olympic gold medalists Summer Sanders and Janet Evans, and Lindquist helped the Cardinal win an NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association title in 1989. American Victor Plata was a top collegiate cross country runner and swimmer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l  `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. before he began entering triathlons after college. ``This sport is so young,'' Plata said. ``Most of the elite athletes now came from other sports. But that's going to start changing because now, with the visibility of being an Olympic sport that began in 2000, the next generation of triathletes are beginning as triathletes and are good at all three elements of the competition.'' On the women's side, Lindquist has been ranked in the top five in the world every year since 1999. Taormina is the reigning world champion. And Susan Williams finished sixth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials although she was pregnant. Australian Loretta Harrop is a formidable contender and many in the sport consider her the favorite. Even so, the U.S. contingent appears strong. On the men's side, Australian Greg Bennett is the favorite. CAPTION(S): box Box: (1) TRIATHLON (2) PRIME VIEWING THIS WEEKEND |
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