There will be nearly 50 Island athletes at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Few will be more appreciative of the achievement, if she qualifies, than Kirsten Sweetland.
鈥淩esilience is the No. 1 trait of all successful athletes,鈥� said the Victoria triathlete.
The 26-year-old has needed a lot of it, overcoming a series of career-threatening health issues over the past decade that have robbed her of nearly four years of combined competitive opportunities. The Stelly鈥檚 grad has rebounded from the latest of them, a serious bacterial infection, to compete in today鈥檚 ITU World Triathlon Series race at Hawrelak Park in Edmonton. It is the latest in a series of races in which points count toward Olympic qualification.
鈥淚鈥檓 still on antibiotics, so it鈥檚 not ideal yet. But I鈥檓 feeling better,鈥� said Sweetland, who had to miss the Toronto Pan Am Games this summer because of the infection, but was back in time for the Hamburg ITU World Series race later in July.
There are three Canadian women鈥檚 berths available for Rio 2016 with Sweetland, former world No. 1 Paula Findlay of Edmonton, emerging Victoria-based Calgarian Ellen Pennock and Sarah-Anne Brault of Quebec City all world-class and in the hunt with a cadre of younger Canuck racers nipping at their heels.
鈥淲e all feed off each other,鈥� said Sweetland, silver medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and with a bronze and three top-10 ITU World Series finishes in 2014.
The 2006 world junior champion has been racing since her teens and chuckles that many people simply assume she is an Olympian. As early as Beijing 2008, she was coming within steps, but injuries and ailments have held her back.
鈥淧eople forget, I haven鈥檛 been yet [to the Olympics],鈥� she said on the phone from Edmonton.
鈥淚 have to make this one [Rio 2016] happen. It鈥檚 been 10 years of trying. But going through all this has made me calmer. I don鈥檛 panic anymore.鈥�
If Sweetland鈥檚 health holds and she qualifies for Rio, fans will know just how appreciative she will be of the accomplishment.
鈥淪ome people have a harder go than others,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hat makes success feel all that much better when it comes.鈥�
Next up, after the Edmonton race today, is the ITU season-finale World Triathlon Series Grand Final in Chicago in two weeks.
