ohhh Team BC!

On the ride today JP and I were just chatting about the good fun Team BC had at last summer's Canada Summer Games -  a visit into the past. 

TEAM BC TRIATHLON SWEEPS GOLD MEDALS, CEMENT PLACE IN CANADA GAMES HISTORY

August 22, 2009 by Editor  
Filed under Beach Volleyball, Canada Summer Games, Diving,Featured, Latest-News, Rowing, Triathlons, Wrestling

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Jeffrey Phillips and Matthew Sharpe of Victoria and Cole Stewart (Langley) with Head Coach Patrick Kelly (Victoria) -- Team BC photos by Michelle Collens

Team BC won four out of the four first gold medals ever handed out in the sport of triathlon at the Canada Summer Games.

Both Team BC men’s and women’s team landed on the top of the podium Friday.

Team BC triathlon head coach Patrick Kelly (Victoria) was confident his team

Alison Hooper of Victoria made history claiming six medals in her first appearance in the Canada Summer Games

would have a good showing, but even he could not predict that the team would sweep all four gold medals.

“I knew they had it in them but I didn’t want to put pressure on them before the Games,” said a beaming Kelly. “This is a quiet but confident team.”
Team Triathlon consists of a 300m swim, seven km bike race and two kilometre run.

Alison Hooper (Victoria) started with the first “mini triathlon” and handed off to Christine Ridenour (Cowichan Bay) who built up a small lead. Kyla Coates (Victoria) finished the third and final triathlon.

“This is so much better than winning my individual gold medal (won earlier in the week),” said Hooper. “We all have something to share. These are my training buddies. It feels great to do something as a team.”

“Everybody did their part today,” said Coates who was third to compete in the relay. “We definitely needed each other.”

The men’s team included Matthew Sharpe (Victoria), Cole Stewart (Langley) and Jeffrey Phillips (Victoria) who also won a gold medal earlier in individual triathlon.

Team BC Triathlon

“It feels pretty sweet,” said Sharpe. “We all put in a good effort.”
Both Hooper and Phillips won individual gold medals in triathlon earlier in the week and BC made history claiming six medals in their first appearance in the Canada Summer Games.

“This whole format is outstanding,” added Kelly whose brothers Wayne (1984 Olympics) and Jon (1988 Olympics) competed internationally in swimming. “The comraderie and support of the athletes and coaches in this environment is exceptional.”

Hooper, Coates and Sharpe now head to Australia to compete in the 2009 World Championships.