Earlier today, six of the top triathletes in the world attended the pre-race Press Conference ahead of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Grand Final in Budapest. Over 100 journalists from Europe, Asia, South America and North America were in attendance, eager to hear from triathlon superstars Emma Moffatt (AUS), Andrea Hewitt (NZL), Lisa Norden (SWE), Jan Frodeno (GER) and Alistair Brownlee (GBR). Also attending the presser was track and field legend Edwin Moses, chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the charitable partner of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series. Here’s what triathlon’s top athletes, and two-time Olympic gold medallist Moses, had to say.
Javier Gomez
On starting off the year with an injury…
“I was very disappointed to start of the year with a hip injury, but I was lucky, things turned around quickly. I have been feeling great for the past few months and I am looking forward to finishing off the season on a high note.”
On racing in unfavourable weather (like the cold and rainy conditions all week in Budapest)…
“I’ve always done well in tough conditions—whether it is in the rain or in the heat. I like racing when it’s hard. Hopefully the weather will improve for tomorrow, but if not, I won’t mind racing in these conditions.”
On the amazing year for Spanish athletics…
“Spain has had a great year in sport with the World Cup win and [Raphael] Nadal playing so well. I hope that I can do my part this weekend to give Spain another World Championship.”
Jan Frodeno
On the possibility of becoming the first male triathlete to win an Olympic gold medal and World Championship…
“It’s huge motivation for me. To be the first person to do something is what every athlete wants to do. The thought of being the first man to win Olympic gold and a world title has really pushed me all year long.”
On the growth of triathlon in Germany…
“Swimming, biking and running have always been popular sports in Germany, so I think that’s why triathlon has become so popular so fast. People in Germany now know who all the top triathletes are. When I go to the supermarket, the cashier asks me how many more points I need to win this year’s world title. That wouldn’t have happened ten years ago.”
On the depth of the men’s field…
“The field is getting better and better every year. It’s getting harder to win and that’s why this year we’ve seen different guys on the podium at just about every race. The run has become incredibly fast. Now you need a 30-minute 10K to win at most races.”
Alistair Brownlee
On having younger brother Jonathan as a training partner…
“It’s been huge for both of us. We’ve been training together almost every day for ten years now. I think I’ve learned as much from him as he’s learned from me. Without each other, neither of us would be where we are today.”
Emma Moffatt
On if winning a second world title will mean more than the first…
“As an athlete, I think winning a second title always means more than the first. The first one is very special, of course, but winning something like a World Championship twice is the way you really make a statement and make your mark.”
On how tight the standings are in the ITU World Rankings…
“Thinking about how tight the points race is won’t do you much good before a race like this. Myself, Andrea and Lisa all know that the way to give yourself the best chance of becoming World Champion is to win on Sunday.”
Andrea Hewitt
On her improvement this year…
“My running has really improved each of the last few seasons, and now it’s at the point where I know I can be competitive at each race. I think the key to my consistent racing has just been consistent, injury-free training. I’ve had the most consistent year of my career in racing because I’ve had the most consistent year of my career in training.”
Lisa Norden
On winning the first-ever ITU Sprint Triathlon World Championship in Lausanne three weeks ago…
“It’s been a great last couple of weeks. The media in Sweden have really woken up to triathlon and it’s getting more attention than ever before. I did a 10K race in Sweden last weekend and there were lots of media asking about triathlon—it was great to see.”
On how close the race for the 2010 World Title is…
“We all know how close it is and we all know that you can’t worry about the points. You just have to go out there and try for the win and then wait and see how everything else unfolds.”
Edwin Moses
On Laureus’s partnership with ITU…
“It’s been a great first year of the partnership. Triathlon is very unique and it has incredible appeal to a wide-range of people. Swimming, biking and running is something everyone can relate to. Laureus is very pleased to see how much appeal triathlon has to youth, and we think that the sport can do a part to curb childhood obesity, which is a worldwide issue today.”
The Elite men will race at 1:00 pm local time on Saturday, with the Elite women to follow at 2:00 pm on Sunday. Live video coverage will be available at triathlon.org/tv