American sports magazine giant Sports Illustrated came out with its medal picks for all 302 events to be staged in the Beijing Olympic Games. Who did the magazine pick for the podium in the triathlon competition?
Sports Illustrated medal picks - Women’s Triathlon
Gold – Emma Snowsill (AUS)
Silver – Vanessa Fernandes (POR)
Bronze – Emma Moffatt (AUS)
Snowsill was boldly picked for gold, ahead of Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal. Why would a 3-time world champion be a bold pick? Perhaps because Fernandes is the all-time world cup wins leader and the only woman to win on the Beijing course, winning the last three Beijing world cups. But Fernandes has faltered this year, losing to Snowsill in Mooloolaba, finishing 10th in a surprisingly weak world championship title defense, and failed to finish in Hamburg, her final race before the Olympics. SI picked Snowsill’s teammate Moffatt for the bronze, which may also be considered a bold call considering 4-time world championships medalist Laura Bennett was third to Fernandes and Snowsill at the Beijing world cup last year.
Sports Illustrated medal picks - Men’s Triathlon
Gold – Javier Gomez (ESP)
Silver – Bevan Docherty (NZL)
Bronze – Frederic Belaubre (FRA)
In the men’s competition, SI went with Spanish sensation Javier Gomez for the gold. Gomez has won four world cup titles this year plus the world championships in Vancouver. The magazine predicts a repeat silver medal performance for Bevan Docherty and pegs Frenchman Frederic Belaubre for the bronze. Docherty was on the podium last year at the Beijing world cup, an event Belaubre won in 2006.
Be sure to catch the women’s triathlon on August 18 and the men’s competition on August 19. Check with your national Olympic broadcaster for listings.