Team GB - Available Places
At the Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens GB had three places in both the men’s and women’s triathlons. In Beijing our men are guaranteed three spots but the women currently only have two places on the start line.
The quota of places that have been awarded to the International Triathlon Union for the Beijing Olympics is 55 men and 55 women. Ten more places than in Sydney and Athens.
Only 8 countries can have 3 places in either the men’s or women’s triathlon competitions. Great Britain was one of those countries in 2000 and 2004 with 3 spots in both the men’s and women’s races. This year GB currently has 3 places in the men’s race but only 2 in the women’s race.
The GB men can boast a high ranking in the International Triathlon Union’s Olympic rankings with Tim Don ranked 7th, Stuart Hayes 13th and Will Clarke 14th. The key is the position of GB’s third ranked triathlete which in the men’s case is Will Clarke the highest ranked third place triathlete of any nation.
The GB women on the other hand are struggling in the Olympic rankings due to a lack of recorded perfomances at World Cups, European and World Championships in recent years. Andrea Whitcombe has been the most consistent and is ranked 8th. Our next triathlete is Michelle Dillon at 45th and the third is Liz Blatchford ranked 62nd. Kerry Lang who has been competing consistently over the last few weeks has pushed up to 64th place.
To have any chance of qualifying a third team member, a GB triathlete will have to better France’s third ranked position currently held by Marion Lorblanchet at 47th.
Time is running out with only the World Cup in Madrid and the World Championships in Vancouver left to score points.
Filed under: Seeking Selection | Tagged: Triathlon, British Triathlon, Beijing Olympics, International Triathlon
