Triathlon Canada announced today the 2000 award recipients for Triathlon Canada Athletes of the Year. Topping the men's list was Olympic Triathlon Champion, Simon Whitfield while World Championships silver medallist, Carol Montgomery, was declared the women's winner.

Whitfield, 25, of Victoria, BC capped an incredible year in the Olympic distance triathlon races by winning the first Olympic Games gold medal in triathlon. His gutsy, come from behind finish at the Sydney Games stirred the nation and made triathlon a household word in Canada. Montgomery, who came off a near career ending injury in 1999, won two (2) World Cup races and placed second at the 2000 Triathlon World Championships on a controversial shortened run course. Montgomery had closed a 2 minute run gap to 7 seconds in the 8km run which was 2km short of the required 10km distance.

Montgomery edged out Lori Bowden, 32, of Victoria, BC, for top honours. Bowden was named Long Distance Triathlete of the Year for her spectacular wins at Ironman Canada and Ironman Australia. Bowden's husband and 1999 overall Athlete of the Year winner, Peter Reid, 31, was also a very strong contender for the overall honors in the men's division with his Championship win at Ironman Hawaii. Reid, of Victoria, BC, was named Long Distance Triathlete of the Year.

Past President of Triathlon Canada and current President of the International Triathlon Union, Les McDonald of North Vancouver, BC will be inducted into the Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame. McDonald has been an instrumental leader in laying the groundwork for the development of the sport in Canada and internationally. McDonald's most satisfying moment came on September 16^th, 2000 when the sport of Triathlon was ushered into the Olympic movement.

Other 2000 Award Winners are as follows:

Short course triathlon
World Cup: Simon Whitfield and Carol Montgomery
Junior: Brent McMahon and Natasha Filliol
Age group: Murray McCutcheon and Nancy Burden
Masters: Harry Barnes and Lynda Hickman

Long distance triathlon
Elite: Peter Reid and Lori Bowden
Age group: Len Gushe and Anim Marx
Masters: Jim Aberdeen and Edie Fisher

Duathlon
Elite: Chad Kozak and Cheryl Murphy
Junior: Brent McMahon and Natasha Filliol
Age group: Mathew White and Rayleen Hill
Masters: Kurt Gelbhaar and Lynda Hickman
Phsyically Challenged: Ron Hackett

Other award winners were also announced:
Hall of Fame: Les McDonald
Significant Contributor: Bill Hallett
Senior Coach of the Year: Lance Watson
Age group/Junior Coach of the Year: Pierre Lemay