The greatest prize in sports awaits two triathletes in Beijing this summer. Olympic gold will be up for grabs for the third time in triathlon’s history on August 18 and 19 on a challenging Olympic course. But the world’s finest triathletes must first qualify to get there. Individual athletes earn spots through their own National Federation’s designated qualifying standards.

Below are athletes who have been nominated by their federation and officially selected by their National Olympic Committee.

Number of Selected Athletes	Country
6	New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, United States
5	Australia, France, Japan, Great Britain, Russia
4	Spain, Italy, Austria
3	Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, China, South Africa, Brazil
2	Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Netherlands, Mexico
1	Bermuda, Syria, Estonia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Chile, Sweden, Greece, Hungary, Denmark, Slovakia

 

NEW ZEALAND – 6 selected athletes (3 women, 3 men)

Olympic selection race for the New Zealand Team revolved around the Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup on September 15th and 16th, the official test event for the Olympics, and the final time athletes will get a chance to race the exact Olympic course before the big dance this summer. With the primary qualifier coming just two weeks after the Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships, a few athletes opted to skip the World Championships. The final selection race was the 2008 Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup on March 30. New Zealand is one of just five countries to qualify the maximum three men and three women.

Women: Debbie Tanner, Samantha Warriner, Andrea Hewitt

Running dynamo Debbie Tanner just missed the podium in Beijing but she was still elated with the fourth place finish as she clinched the first Olympic nomination for the New Zealand team. Sam Warriner took the second spot as she was the second Kiwi across the line in sixth place. Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels both skipped World Championships to focus on Beijing. But the all-or-nothing gamble didn’t pay off for either with 14th and 25th place finishes respectively. In 2008, the final qualifier for the New Zealand team came down to the Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup, a race that offered similar conditions and course to the Olympics.  Hewitt finished ahead of Samuels and later that week was announced as the third and final member of the women’s Olympic team.

Men: Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed

In the men’s qualifier, Bevan Docherty won bronze and was the first Kiwi across the line, which means he’ll be heading back to the Olympics in search of another medal in Beijing. Kris Gemmell finished just seven seconds behind Docherty to earn his first Olympic team nomination. Despite finishing behind Terenzo Bozzone in Mooloolaba, Shane Reed earned the final men’s spot by winning the Oceania Championships earlier in March.

On December 12th, the New Zealand Olympic Committee officially named the four nominated triathletes to the Olympic Team. On April 4th, 2008 Hewitt and Reed were officially announced by the NZOC.

 

CANADA – 6 selected athletes (3 women, 3 men)

Triathlon Canada had three Olympic qualifiers in 2007, starting with the Des Moines BG Triathlon World Cup on June 17. Next was the Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships on September 1st and 2nd, then the Olympic test event in Beijing on September 15th and 16th. The final qualifier was the world championships in Vancouver, Canada on June 8. Canada is one of just five countries to qualify the maximum three men and three women.

Women: Lauren Groves, Kathy Tremblay, Carolyn Murray

As the only Canadian woman to finish in the top 16 at the 2007 world championships, Groves had all but secured her spot on the Canadian Olympic team. Regardless of how she fared in Beijing, as long as two Canadian women did not finish in the top eight, Groves’ spot was safe. The best Canadian finish in Beijing, the final qualifier in 2007, was a 16th place result by Carolyn Murray, ensuring Groves’ first Olympic nomination. The final two spots were determined after the world championships in Vancouver. Despite no Canadians making the top-8 (and therefore guaranteed spots) Kathy Tremblay and Carolyn Murray earned Olympic nominations as the top Canadian women at world championships.

Men: Simon Whitfield, Paul Tichelaar, Colin Jenkins

The 2000 Olympic Champion needed a top five finish in Des Moines but just missed out, crossing the line in 6th place, just six seconds back. But Whitfield got the job done in Hamburg with a fourth place result, his best performance at a world championship. Like Groves, his Olympic selection became official after Beijing on September 16th as two other Canadian men did not make the top five. 2008 will be Whitfield’s third trip to the Olympic Games. With the last two Olympic spots being awarded after the world championships, Paul Tichelaar and Colin Jenkins were nominated to join Whitfield in Beijing. But the selections were not without controversy in the days leading up to the world championships in Vancouver as Whitfield openly lobbied for Jenkins' nomination.

 

GERMANY – 6 selected athletes (3 women, 3 men)

As host of the 2007 Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships, the Deutsche Triathlon Union (DTU) allotted four Olympic spots to the top two women and top two men (in the top ten) from the championships on September 1st and 2nd, making Hamburg the most important race of 2007 for the German team. The Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup on September 15th and 16th was the DTU’s secondary qualifier but results there depended on how athletes fared in Hamburg. Germany is one of just five countries to qualify the maximum three men and three women. The German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed the nominations on June 24.

Women: Ricarda Lisk, Anja Dittmer, Christiane Pilz

The two women’s spots would be a fierce battle between four big names; two-time Olympians Anja Dittmer and Joelle Franzmann, 2007 German National Champion Christiane Pilz and 2006 National Champion Ricarda Lisk. In Hamburg, Lisk was the first German to cross the finish line in fifth place with Dittmer just five seconds behind in sixth place to lock up the first Olympic spots for the German team. The final spot came down to a battle between friends Franzmann and Pilz at the 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup. After pulling ahead in the run, Franzmann looked to have the Olympic berth locked up but Pilz fought back and in the final few kilometers, crossed the line ahead of Franzmann to earn her first trip to the Olympics.

Men: Daniel Unger, Jan Frodeno, Christian Prochnow

On the men’s side, Daniel Unger stunned the triathlon world with an impressive performance in Hamburg to be crowned the 2007 World Champion. As an added bonus, he also garnered himself his first Olympic team nomination. Jan Frodeno, the 2007 German National Champion, earned the other Olympic spot by finishing in sixth place. Beijing will also be the first Olympics for Frodeno. Both men won medals at the ETU European Championships in Copenhagen earlier in 2007. The third spot was decided at the Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup on May 25 and was three-man tilt. All eyes were on Maik Petzold and two-time Olympian Andreas Raelert but it was the dark horse Christian Prochnow who came out on top as the top German in Madrid, securing his first Olympic berth.

 

SWITZERLAND – 6 selected athletes (3 women, 3 men)

Selection to this Swiss Olympic team was set differently for athletes considered team leaders and newcomers. A top-12 finish for team leaders (Reto Hug, Olivier Marceau, Sven Riederer and Magali Di Marco, Nicola Spirig, Daniela Ryf), provided that these athletes competed in the 2007 Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup and a top-6 or two top-10 finish for newcomers (Ruedi Wild, Charles Rusterholz, Sebastien Gacond and Melanie Annaheim, Sarah Schuetz) in any world cup prior to the world championships (June 5-8) are eligible for Olympic nomination. On June 13, Swiss Triathlon formally put forth six names to the Swiss Olympic Association for nomination and the team was made official on June 23. Switzerland is one of just five countries to qualify the maximum three men and three women.

Women: Nicola Spirig, Magali Di marco, Daniela Ryf

The women’s squad is a smooth blend of experience and young talent. Nicola Spirig was selected to race in her second Olympics and is perhaps Switzerland’s biggest threat for the women’s podium. She was seventh and the top Swiss at the Beijing test event in 2007. Olympic bronze medalist from 2000, Magali Di marco will make her second trip to the Games. The 36-year old mother has not raced much in 2008 but a bronze in Richards Bay and 15th place at the European championships were enough to secure a spot on the Olympic team. Rising star Daniela Ryf, who’s 16 years Di marco’s junior, was also selected. The newly crowned under23 world champion has enjoyed a breakthrough season; taking bronze at Madrid for her first world cup medal and currently sits ninth in the world, the highest Swiss woman.

Men: Reto Hug , Sven Riederer, Olivier Marceau

On the men’s side, Athens bronze medalist Sven Riederer returns for his second Olympic Games. So far this season he has posted top ten performances at Tongyeong and at the European championships. Reto Hug has also been named to the Swiss Olympic team for the third time in his career after finishing eighth in Sydney and 40th in Athens. This year has been a resurgent one for Hug, who’s coming off a bronze medal at the world championships. Also heading to his third Olympics is European championships bronze medalist Olivier Marceau. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Marceau competed for France and finished in seventh place. Four years later in Athens, he represented Switzerland and crossed the line in eighth place, making him the only man to finish in the top ten at both Olympics.

 

UNITED STATES – 6 selected athletes (3 women, 3 men)

With three total selection races, only one of them came in 2007; the Olympic test event in Beijing on September 15th and 16th. The top American man and woman across the line earned the first Olympic spots.  The next slots would be the winners at the U.S. Olympic Trials on April 19th in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Points earned from the first two races determined the final spots at the Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup in Des Moines on June 22. The U.S. is one of just five countries to qualify the maximum three men and three women. The United States Olympic Committee confirmed all six nominations on June 23.

Women: Laura Bennett, Julie Ertel, Sarah Haskins

Coming off a bronze at the World Championships, Bennett took bronze again in Beijing. As the first American woman across the finish line, she notched her first Olympic spot. Four World Championship medals support her reputation as a triathlete who comes through on the big occasions. Julie Ertel will head to her second Olympic Games after winning U.S. Olympic trials in convincing fashion.  But Beijing will be her first Olympics in triathlon.  She was a silver medalist in water polo at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. After finishing second at the two previous selection races, Haskins was the favourite to claim the final Olympic spot at the Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup on June 22. She did just that after Sarah Groff failed to become the top American at the race. Haskins finished sixth overall and secured her first Olympic Games spot.

Men: Jarrod Shoemaker, Matt Reed, Hunter Kemper

All eyes were on two-time Olympian Hunter Kemper and 2004 Olympian Andy Potts but it was Jarrod Shoemaker who pulled out a gutsy performance to steal the first Olympic spot as the top American finisher in Beijing. It was the second major career milestone for Shoemaker in Asia as he was crowned Under23 World Champion in Gamagori, Japan in 2005. Matt Reed will join brother Shane (who competes for New Zealand) on the Beijing start line after winning U.S. Olympic trials. In a battle for the final Olympic spot at the Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup, Kemper came out on top, crossing the line before Potts and earning his third trip to the Olympic Games. Kemper becomes the first American triathlete to qualify for three Olympics. He was 17th in Sydney and 9th in Athens. Kemper is a 6-time U.S. Elite National Champion.

 

AUSTRALIA – 5 selected athletes (3 women, 2 men)

Selection is primarily discretionary for the Australian team but selectors pay particular attention to performances at the BG Triathlon World Championships and at the BG Triathlon World Cup races in Mooloolaba and Beijing. Triathlon Australia announced “early nominations” on October 1, 2007. It announced the entire nomination team on April 15, 2008. On July 3, the Australian Olympic Committee officially confirmed the nomination team to the Australian Olympic team.

Women: Emma Snowsill, Emma Moffatt, Erin Densham

With silver medals at the Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships and the Olympic test event in Beijing, three-time World Champion Emma Snowsill was nominated for her first Olympic spot by Triathlon Australia’s selection committee. Emma Moffatt was nominated by virtue of a number of impressive performances, including winning the Oceania Championships and the New Plymouth BG Triathlon World Cup, her second world cup title in ten months.  Erin Densham secured the final Olympic spot.  The 2006 under23 world champion took silver at the 2008 Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup.

Men: Courtney Atkinson, Brad Kahlefeldt

With a solid silver medal performance on the Olympic course in Beijing, and a bronze medal at the Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships, Courtney Atkinson and Brad Kahlefeldt proved themselves worthy for the Australian Olympic team. Both earned early nominations from the federation’s selection committee. Athens Olympian Greg Bennett was also nominated to the Australian team.  However, Bennett’s spot on the Olympic team was subject to his ability to stay in the top 125 of ITU’s Olympic rankings and Australia’s ability to qualify a full team of three men. After the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships, Australia finished 9th in the country standings and for the first time failed to qualify three men for the Olympics, subsequently ending Bennett's Beijing dream.

 

FRANCE – 5 selected athletes (2 women, 3 men)

The French federation designated two key races in its Olympic qualification process: the European championships on May 10 and the Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup on May 25.

Women: Jessica Harrison, Carole Peon

With the two women's spots earned by France, the French federation selected Jessica Harrison and Carole Peon. Born in Sheffield, England but now competing for France, Harrison will make her Olympic debut in Beijing. She was 19th at the world championships in Vancouver and ninth at the European championships last month in Lisbon. Like Harrison, Peon will compete in her first Olympic Games. She was the top Frenchwoman at the world championships, finishing in 13th place and tying her best ever world championship performance. Last year in Cancun, Peon made her first appearance on the world cup podium.

Men: Frederic Belaubre, Tony Moulai, Laurent Vidal

Leading the men’s team is the always dangerous Frederic Belaubre, who last month won his third European championship. In 2006 he won the Beijing world cup and was fifth at the Athens Olympics. He’ll be joined by Tony Moulai, who was runner-up to Belaubre in Lisbon at the European championships and was the top Frenchman at the world championships. Rounding out the men’s team is Laurent Vidal, who has a pair of top-8 world cup finishes and was 16th at the world championships. French veteran and noted swim-biker Stephane Poulat was named the alternate.

 

JAPAN – 5 selected athletes (3 women, 2 men)

Two key races for selection to Japan's Olympic team were the 2008 Asian championships and the 2008 world championships. On June 24, the Japanese Olympic Committee formally confirmed its triathlon team for Beijing.

Women: Ai Ueda, Juri Ide, Kiyomi Niwata

With three women's spots qualified for the third straight Olympics, the first was awarded to Ai Ueda who topped the field for her second elite Asian title in Guanzhou, China earlier this year. With it, she earned her first Olympic Games spot. Ueda was a silver medalist at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Juri Ide and Kiyomi Niwata were selected by the Japanese Triathlon Union to join Ueda. Ide has been solid this year; eighth in Mooloolaba, fourth in Ishigaki, just narrowly missing the podium in her home country, and 11th at world championships. At last year's world cup season finale, Ide broke through for her first world cup podium. The women's team is rounded out by veteran Kiyomi Niwata, a regular on the world cup series since 1997. The veteran Niwata is the only member of Japan's Olympic team to have competed at both previous Olympics, finishing 14th in Sydney and Athens. Last year she reached number two in the world, best of any Japanese triathlete and this year was runner-up at the Asian championships.

Men: Ryosuke Yamamoto, Hirokatsu Tayama

Few had unheralded Ryosuke Yamamoto as a contender for the Asian championship but he pulled off the upset to take his first major title. With the championship, Yamamoto claimed the first spot on the Japanese Olympic team. He was fourth at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Hirokatsu Tayama was selected for his second Olympic Games. He is most known as being the first and only Japanese triathlete to win a world cup title, taking last year's season finale in Eilat, Israel. Tayama was 13th in Athens and fifth at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. That same year he won the Asian Championships.

 

GREAT BRITAIN – 5 selected athletes (2 women, 3 men)

Of the three Olympic qualifiers for the British team, two were in 2007; world championships in Hamburg and the Beijing test event two weeks later. A top-3 finish at either race would earn that athlete a guaranteed Olympic spot. With no athletes reaching the podium at either race, it all came down to the Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup on May 25.

Women: Helen Tucker, Hollie Avil

Six British women were on the start line in Madrid but with Helen Tucker who crossed the line as the top Brit, in second place just behind 20-time world cup winner Vanessa Fernandes. The silver in Madrid almost assured her of the first Olympic spot. Any lingering doubts were dismissed in Vancouver on June 8 when Tucker shocked all to win the world championships. She backed that up with a bronze at the lucrative Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup. An astounding four weeks of racing was capped off with her first Olympic selection. Joining Tucker in Beijing will be another world champion, last year's junior world champion Hollie Avil. The teenager has broken through the elite ranks this year, taking bronze in Ishigaki and silver in Tongyeong. She fourth in Madrid and the second Brit behind Tucker to secure her first Olympic spot.

Men: Alistair Brownlee, Will Clarke, Tim Don

Going into the team's final Olympic selection race in Madrid, Will Clarke was in the best position after posting top-8 results in Hamburg and Beijing. But it was rising star Alistair Brownlee who was the first British athlete across the finish line, taking bronze and sealing his Olympic selection. Brownlee was junior world champion in 2006 and became the under23 world champion earlier in June. Finishing just behind him in fourth place in Madrid was Tim Don. The 2006 world champion earned his third trip to the Olympics is the only member of Great Britain's 2008 team with previous Games experience. He was tenth in Sydney and 18th in Athens, making him one of triathlon's few triple Olympians. Clarke finished Madrid in sixth place and earned the final spot on the competitive men's team heading to Beijing. He was the top British athlete at the 2007 Beijing test event, finishing in seventh place. In 2006 he was the under23 world and European champion.

 

RUSSIA – 5 selected athletes (2 women, 3 men)

Nearing the end of ITU's Olympic qualification period, Russia was locked in a battle to get inside the top-8 countries to send three men to Beijing. With strong performances at the world championships, Russia succeeded and finished seventh in the overall men's standings. Russia also qualified two women for Beijing with high enough Olympic rankings.

Women: Olga Zausaylova, Irina Abyssova

Irina Abyssova was the top Russian woman in the Olympic rankings and earns her first trip to the Olympic Games. Abyssova is having her best season to date with two top-10 finishes this year at Ishigaki and Tongyeong and a tenth place at the European championships in Lisbon. Olga Zausaylova shot up the Olympic rankings at the beginning of the season thanks to two sixth place performances on the BG Triathlon World Cup series in Mooloolaba and Tongyeong earlier this year. With her She also had her best ever world championship performance with a 23rd place finish in Vancouver, Canada on June 8th. Beijing will be her first Olympics as well.

Men: Alexander Brukhankov, Igor Sysoev, Dmitry Polyansky

Last year was a breakthrough season for Alexander Brukhankov as the 2006 junior world championship silver medalist made three appearances on the world cup podium. He took medals at Richards Bay, Edmonton and Eilat and finished the year ranked number seven in the world. Beijing will be his first Olympics. Joining him on the team will be Igos Sysoev, the only athlete on this year's Russian team with previous Olympic experience, finishing 15th in Athens. Sysoev was the top Russian in the Olympic rankings and finished seventh at this year's world championships. Rounding out the Russian men's team is Dmitry Polyansky, the man many countries were keeping a close eye on as it was his performances that kept Russia in the top-8 battle. To do so, Polyansky raced every world cup in 2008, highlighted with a seventh place at Richards Bay. He went on to an 11th place finish at the world championships and sealed his first Olympic selection.

 

SPAIN – 4 selected athletes (2 women, 2 men)

The Spanish Federation announced their Olympic nominations on June 18, shortly after the end of the ITU Olympic qualification period and the country was confirmed two men's and two women's spots in the Beijing fields. On June 24, the Spanish Olympic Committee (Comitê Olímpico Español) confirmed the federation's nominated athletes to the Olympic team.

Women: Ana Burgos, Ainhoa Murua

The irrepressible Ana Burgos will be four months shy of her 41st birthday when she toes the start line in Beijing for her second Olympic appearance. Regardless of age, the former European champion is still the most dangerous woman on the Spanish team. Burgos finished seventh at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Joining her in Beijing will be Ainhoa Murua who was nominated to her second Olympics after finishing 24th in Athens.

Men: Javier Gomez, Ivan Rana

It was not a massive surprise when Javier Gomez garnered early nomination to the Spanish Olympic team. In 2007 he won four World Cup titles including the prestigious Beijing event. He also won his first European championship and was a silver medalist at the world championships. He continued his stellar form in 2008 with three world cup titles and the elusive world championship in Vancouver on June 8. Gomez is widely considered to be the pre-Olympic favourite for gold in Beijing. Ivan Rana was world champion in 2002 and performed solidly at the Olympic test event in Beijing, finishing in sixth place.

 

ITALY – 4 selected athletes (2 women, 2 men)

Italy qualified four total athletes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics; two women and two men. On July 10, the Italian Olympic Committee confirmed the federation's nominations.

Women: Nadia Cortassa , Charlotte Bonin

Nadia Cortassa earned her second Olympic Games selection after finishing fifth in Athens four years ago. This season the veteran has proved she's still in good form with an impressive silver medal performance at the European championships, her fourth career medal at the event. Joining her on the Italian women's team is Charlotte Bonin who will race in her first Olympics. At last year's Beijing test event Bonin finished in 27th place.

Men: Daniel Fontana, Emilio D'Aquino

Daniel Fontana will race in his second Olympics after earning selection from the Italian Olympic Committee. Four years ago he was 28th in Athens and this year he finished 14th at the world championships in Vancouver. Emilio D'Aquino will join him on the Beijing start line as he makes his Olympic debut. A junior world championships silver medalist in 2001, last year D'Aquino had his best performance at an elite world championships when he finished 23rd. He has won the Italian National Championships three times.

 

AUSTRIA – 4 selected athletes (3 women, 1 man)

Austria qualified five total athletes for the Olympics; three women and two men. However, the Austrian Olympic Committee has elected to only use one of it's men's spots. Going into the 2008 world championships, the final ITU event with Olympic qualifying points at stake, Austria trailed France by 450 points. But Kate Allen's 8th place finish at world championships catapulted Austria past France to become the final country to earn three women's Olympic spots.

Women: Eva Dollinger, Tania Haiboeck, Kate Allen

Eva Dollinger was the highest ranked Austrian woman in ITU's Olympic rankings at number 21 and earned her second Olympic selection. Dollinger finished 28th in Athens in 2004. Last year she broke through for her best ever world cup performance; a silver medal at the Kitzbuehel BG Triathlon World Cup, the first world cup event staged in her home country. Tania Haiboeck earned her first Olympic spot as she was the second highest ranked Austrian woman. This year she has posted some of the best world cup results of her career, including a 7th place finish in Richards Bay. Athens Olympic champion Kate Allen will indeed be in Beijing to defend her gold medal. Just qualifying for Beijing was an impressive feat for Allen who suffered a horrific bike crash at her season opener in New Plymouth. Her 8th place finish in Vancouver, Canada was the best of her career at the world championships. Allen has twice finished runner-up at the European championships.

Men: Simon Agoston

Simon Agoston will carry Austrian hope in the men's triathlon in Beijng after the Austrian Olympic Committee refused to use the second men's spot it qualified. Agoston was the second ranked Austrian in the men's ITU Olympic rankings and this year finished 9th at Richards Bay, one of the best world cup results of his career.

 

PORTUGAL – 3 selected athletes (1 woman, 2 men)

Olympic qualification for the Portuguese team is partly based on performance and partly discretionary. By the end of ITU's Olympic qualification period, Portugal earned three Olympic spots in total, one women and two men. On July 2nd the Portuguese Olympic Committee formally confirmed all three to its Olympic team.

Women: Vanessa Fernandes

If Vanessa Fernandes is considered the favourite to win gold at this summer’s Olympic Games, then she was a lock to earn a place on Portugal’s Olympic team. As an 18-year old, she finished eighth at the Athens Olympics. Fernandes has amassed an ITU all-time record of 20 world cup titles (including three in Beijing), five European championships and won her first world championship last September in Hamburg, Germany.

Men: Bruno Pais, Duarte Silva Marques

With two men's Olympic spots for the Potuguese team, the federation nominated Bruno Pais and Duarte Silva Marques. Pais was the top Portuguese man at the European championships while Marques was tops for his country at the world championships.

 

CZECH REPUBLIC – 3 selected athletes (2 women, 1 man)

At the end of ITU's Olympic qualification period, the Czech Republic earned a total of three Olympic spots.

Women: Vendula Frintova, Lenka Zemanova

Vendula Frintova was the highest ranked Czech woman in the Olympic rankings and earned her first Olympic Games selection. As promising up and comer, Frintova was twice a silver medalist at the under23 world championships. She has been on the world cup podium three times in her career, including a bronze in Tongyeong earlier this year. Lenka Zemanova was selected for her second Olympic Games. She was 26th in Athens, tops amongst a full Czech women's team of three.

Men: Filip Ospaly

Filip Ospaly will be the lone Czech competitor in the men's field in Beijing. This will be Ospaly's second trip to the Olympics after finishing 29th in Athens. He was hte highest ranked Czech athlete in the Olympic rankings and has won three world cup titles in his career, including last year's win in Madrid, and was crowned European champion in 2001.

 

POLAND – 3 selected athletes (2 women, 1 man)

At the end of ITU's Olympic qualification period, Poland earned a total of three Olympic spots. Beijing will mark the first time Polish triathletes will be on the Olympic start line.

Women: Ewa Dederko, Maria Czesnik

Ewa Dederko was the highest ranked Polish woman in the Olympic rankings and earns her first trip to the Olympic Games. Last year she finished a career-best eighth place at the 2007 European championships in Copehagen. Joining her in Beijing will be Maria Czesnik was earned a high enough of an Olympic ranking to earn Poland's second Olympic spot. This year in Lisbon Czesnik finished inside the top-15 at the European championships.

Men: Marek Jaskolka

Marek Jaskolka will be the first and only Polish man to race in the men's triathlon at the Olympics when he lines up on the Beijing pontoon this August. Last year Jaskolka finished 13th at the world championships in Hamburg, Germany and began his 2008 season with a seventh place finish at the Tongyeong BG Triathlon World Cup in South Korea.

 

CHINA – 3 selected athletes (2 women, 1 man)

The host nation China earned three total spots in the men's and women's triathlon events.

Women: Lin Xing, Yi Zhang

Lin Xing is the top contender for the home team and will likely be the top Chinese athlete in the triathlon at the Olympics. Last year Xing posted three top-15 finishes on the BG Triathlon World Cup series and finished 17th at world cup stop in Beijing. Her 17th place was the best of any Chinese triathlete at the event, which served as the official test event for the Olympics. Joinin her on the Olympic start line will be Yi Zhang. She was fourth at this year's Asian championships and placed 51st at the Beijing test event last September.

Men: Daqing Wang

Daqing Wang will be the lone Chinese man to represent the host nation in the men's triathlon competition. He finished ninth at the this year's Asian championships and 49th at the under23 world championships in Canada in June. Wang has never raced an world cup race at the elite level. As host nation, China is allotted at least one invitation spot in both men's and women's competitions.

 

SOUTH AFRICA – 3 selected athletes (2 women, 1 man)

At the end of ITU's Olympic qualification period, South Africa earned three total spots; two women and one man.

Women: Mari Rabie, Kate Roberts

For the first time South Africa will send two women to compete in the triathlon at the Olympic Games with Mari Rabie and Kate Roberts slated to be on the Beijing pontoon. Rabie, the reigning African champion, became the first African to win a medal at the triathlon world championships when she took bronze in the under23 division in Canada earlier this year. This will be her first Olympic Games appearance. Beijing will also be the Olympic debut for Roberts, the African champion from 2006 and 2007. This year she was the top African at the world championships, finishing 18th in Vancouver which was also a career best for her.

Men: Hendrik De Villiers

Hendrik De Villiers will carry South African hopes in the men's field at Beijing as he heads to his first Olympic Games. Winner of the last two African championships, De Villiers set a major milestone last year in his own country, becoming the first African triathlete to win a world cup title. This year he posted a strong performance at the world championships, finishing fourth and took bronze at the world cup event in Richards Bay, South Africa.

 

BRAZIL – 3 selected athletes (1 woman, 2 men)

Brazil earned two Olympic spots for Beijing, one woman and one man. On June 24th, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (Comitê Olímpico Brasileiro) confirmed the athletes selected to compete in Beijing. However, with Austria electing only to use one of its two men's Olympic spots, that rolled down to Brazil.

Women: Mariana Ohata

As the top Brazilian woman in the Olympic rankings, Mariana Ohata was selected for her second Olympic Games. She finished in 37th place in Athens in 2004 and was sixth at last year's Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Men: Reinaldo Colucci, Juraci Moreira

Making his Olympic debut will be Brazil's only competitor in the men's Olympic field, Reinaldo Colucci. Last year the rising star finished fifth at three world cup events; Ishigaki, Edmonton and Tiszaujvaros. With the second spot that was awarded to Brazil in mid-July with Austria taking a pass on it, Juraci Moreira was selected to the Olympic team for the third time in his career. In Sydney he finished 22nd and was 41st in Athens four years ago. Last he was a bronze medalist at the Pan Am Games in his home country.

 

LUXEMBOURG – 2 selected athletes (1 woman, 1 man)

Luxembourg earned two Olympic spots for Beijing, one woman and one man. On June 24th, the country's National Olympic Committee confirmed the two athletes selected to compete in Beijing.

Women: Elizabeth May

Elizabeth May was Luxembourg's highest ranked triathlete in the Olympic rankings and has been number one from her country in the world rankings in four of the last five years. She has placed in the top-15 at the last three world championships. All things considered, May was a lock for the Luxembourg Olympic team. She was the only triathlete from her country to qualify for the Athens Olympics where she placed 17th. May took bronze at the 2006 Beijing world cup and calls the Olympic course her favorite on the ITU circuit.

Men: Dirk Bockel

For the first time in triathlon's Olympic history, Luxembourg will represented in the men's field. Dirk Bockel became the first from his country to earn a spot on the men's Olympic start line with his Olympic ranking. He has been the highest ranked man from Luxembourg every year since 2001.

 

KAZAKHSTAN – 2 selected athletes (2 men)

Despite not winning Asian championships as the favoured country, Kazakhstan still qualified two men for Beijing and both men were able to keep the spots they earned. The Kazakh Olympic Committee confirmed its triathlon team on June 23.

Men: Dmitriy Gaag, Daniil Sapunov

The most accomplished Kazakh triathlete ever, Dmitriy Gaag will head to his third Olympic Games this August. He finished fourth in Sydney and 25th in Athens. Gaag was a world champion in 1999 and was gold medalist at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Gaag will be joined in Beijing by Daniil Sapunov who earned his second Olympic Games selection. Sapunov was 17th in Athens. Last year Sapunov won his first elite Asian championship and in 2005 he was a silver medalist at the under23 world championships. This season he was runner-up at the Asian championships and finished 15th at Tongyeong and the recent Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup, the richest event on the ITU calendar.

 

BELGIUM – 2 selected athletes (2 men)

Belgium qualified two total athletes for the Beijing Olympics but no women qualified.

Men: Peter Croes, Axel Zeebroek

Peter Croes was the top Belgian triathlete in ITU's Olympic rankings. He has twice been junior European champion in 2002 and 2003. This year finished fifth at the New Plymouth BG Triathlon World Cup, tying his best ever world cup performance. Croes finished 32nd at the Beijing test event last year and 11th at the Beijing world cup in 2005. Axel Zeebroek was eighth at this year's European championships in Lisbon, which tied his career best at the event. Both will be competing in their first Olympics Games.

 

HONG KONG – 2 selected athletes (1 woman, 1 man)

Hong Kong earned two Olympic spots for Beijing, one woman and one man. On July 4th, the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong officially confirmed the athletes selected to compete in Beijing

Women: Tania Mak So Ning

The up and coming Tania Mak So Ning will be the only woman from her country to line up on the pontoon for the women's triathlon at the Beijing Olympics. She has been consistent on the Asian Cup circuit with her most impressive performance at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha where she placed sixth. At this year's under23 world championships, Mak So Ning finished in 18th place.

Men: Daniel Lee Chi Wo

Hong Kong's most prominent triathlete, Daniel Lee Chi Wo will compete in his second Olympic Games after finishing 43rd in Athens. He was a silver medalist at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and last year was 16th at the world championships in Hamburg, by far his best world championship performance. Already this year Lee Chi Wo has racked up Asian Cup wins in the Philippines and Thailand.

 

UKRAINE – 2 selected athletes (1 woman, 1 man)

The Ukraine qualified two total Olympic spots, one man and one woman, but narrowly missed a second men's spot after Andriy Glushchenko failed to finish at the world championships and in Madrid, the final two events with Olympics points at stake.

Women: Yuliya Sapunova

Rising young star and Team BG member, Yuliya Sapunova (formerly Yelistratova) was the highest ranked woman from her country in the Olympic rankings. Last year she finished fourth at both the junior European championships and junior world championships and broke through for her best ever world cup result, a fourth place finish in Tiszaujvaros. Beijing will be her first Olympic Games.

Men: Volodymyr Polikarpenko

Arguably the most accomplished Ukrainian triathlete ever, Volodymyr Polikarpenko will race in his third Olympic Games this August. In 2000 he finished in 15th place and in 2004 he was 30th. A veteran of the world cup circuit since 1997, Polikarpenko has five world cup titles and made the world cup podium 22 times in his career. He was also the overall world cup series runner-up in 2006.

 

NETHERLANDS – 2 selected athletes (1 woman, 1 man)

The Netherlands qualifed three total spots (two women and one man) but have elected to send just two athletes to Beijing. The National Olympic Committee required athletes to have two world cup top ten results to warrant Olympic selection.

Women: Lisa Mensink

Though born in Canada, Lisa Mensink will represent her adopted country at her first Olympic Games appearance. Mensink debuted on the world cup circuit in 2006 racing for Canada but began the 2007 season competing for the Netherlands. This year she finished inside the top-10 at Tongyeong and Hamburg to earn a spot on the Beijing start line.

Men: Sander Berk

Sander Berk will also race in his first Olympic Games when he lines up on the ponton in Beijing. Last year in Hamburg Berk posted his best ever world championships result and this year set a world cup career best with an eighth place finish in Richards Bay.

 

 

MEXICO – 2 selected athletes (1 woman, 1 man)

Mexico earned one Olympic spot in the men's field through ITU's Olympic qualification. However, the Netherlands forfeiting one of its women's spots, it rolled down to Mexico who collected its first women's slot for Beijing.

Women: Adriana Fabiola Corona

Adriana Fabiola Corona was the highest ranked Mexican woman in the Olympic rankings and with it she earns her first trip to the Olympic Games. Earlier this year she was a bronze medalist at the Pan American Championships at Mazatlan, Mexico.

 

Men: Francisco Serrano

The Mexican federation selected Francisco Serrano was selected for his first Olympic Games. This year Serrano was a bronze medalist at the Pan American Championships in Mazatlan, Mexico and is coming off his best ever performance at the elite world championships.

 

ESTONIA – 1 selected athlete (1 man)

Estonia qualified one athlete for Beijing and for the second straight year the country will be represented by the same athlete.

Men: Marko Albert

Marko Albert competes in his second Olympic Games after finishing 21st in Athens. He remains the only Estonian triathlete to ever qualify and compete in the Olympics. This year he had his best ever performance at the world championships and has twice been on the world cup podium.

 

IRELAND – 1 selected athlete (1 woman)

For the first time in Olympic history, Ireland will be represented in the triathlon competition. The country earned one spot in the Beijing women's field.

Women: Emma Davis

At the end of 2007, Emma Davis was ranked 137th in the ITU Olympic rankings. But in 2008 she criss-crossed the world, traveling to eight different countries racing and collecting all-important Olympic qualfying points. She posted top-15 results in five world cups and the world championships and jumped to number 51 in the Olympic rankings by the time the qualifcation period ended. It was a remarkable climb up the rankings that earned Davis her first Olympic Games berth.

 

ZIMBABWE – 1 selected athlete (1 man)

At the end of the Olympic qualification period, Zimbabwe earned one spot on the men's Olympic field.

Men: Christopher Felgate

Christopher Felgate will make his Olympic debut in Beijing after officially being named to the Zimbabwean Olympic team. He was ninth at this year's African championships and earlier this year had his best ever world cup result in Richards Bay, South Africa.

 

 

CHILE – 1 selected athlete (1 woman)

The women's triathlon at the Olympics will include a Chilean for the first time in history as the country qualifed one spot in the women's field.

Women: Barbara Riveros Diaz

Barbara Riveros Diaz has the honour of being the first woman to represent Chile at the Olympics for triathlon. Riveros Diaz has been very successful on the PATCO Continental Cup circuit, winning fve titles since 2006. Earlier this year she became the under23 Pan American champion and was fifth at the under23 world championships in Vancouver, Canada. Another breakthrough came this season at the lucrative Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup where she cracked the top-20 for the first time at a world cup.

 

SWEDEN – 1 selected athlete (1 woman)

For the first time in Olympic history, the women's triathlon field will be represented by Sweden as the country earned one women's spot by the end of ITU's Olympic qualifying.

Women: Lisa Norden

Last year's under23 world champion Lisa Norden will make her first Olympic appearance. This season has been a breakthrough one for Norden. She made the podium at the BG Triathlon World Cups in Mooloolaba and New Plymouth and won a sprint finish for the bronze medal at the European championships.

 

GREECE – 1 selected athlete (1 woman)

Greece earned one Olympic spot through ITU's Olympic qualifying and for the first time the country will be represented in the women's field.

Women: Deniz Dimaki

Deniz Dimaki was a bronze medalist at the Duathlon European championships in May in her home country; a feat she's most proud of in her career as it marked the first time a Greek triathlete medaled at a European championship. She'll also make Greek history in Beijing as she will have the honour of being the first female triathlete from her country to compete in the Olympic Games when she lines up for the start of the women's triathlon on August 18.

 

HUNGARY – 1 selected athlete (1 woman)

At the end of Olympic qualifying, Hungary earned one Olympic spot in the women's field.

Women: Zita Szabo

Zita Szabo will carry Hungarian triathlon hopes at the Olympics as the only from her country to qualify. Beijing will be her Olympic debut. This year Szabo had her best performance at the European championships in Lisbon, Portugal in May. She was the highest ranked Hungarian in the Olympic rankings and finished 2007 as the highest ranked Hungarian woman in the world rankings.

 

DENMARK – 1 selected athlete (1 man)

Denmark earned one Olympic spot in the men's field the qualification was structured that whoever earned Denmark a spot through ITU's Olympic qualification, that athlete would keep that spot.

Men: Rasmus Henning

Rasmus Henning will compete in his second Olympics after the Danish veteran placed seventh in Athens in 2004. This year Henning won his fifth career world cup title at the Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon World Cup in Des Moines and also took silver in Ishigaki.

 

SLOVAKIA – 1 selected athlete (1 man)

For the first time in triathlon's Olympic history, Slovakia will be represented as the country earned one spot in the men's competition.

Men: Pavel Simko

Pavel Simko will have the honour of being the first triathlete from his country to compete at the Olympic Games when he toes the start line in Beijing. Last year Simko won a European Cup in Schliersee, Germany and this year he posted an impressive 6th place finish at the European championships in Lisbon, Portugal, ahead of defending champion Javier Gomez.

 

Olympic Tripartite Selections (1 woman, 1 man)

In March, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed the two ITU athletes selected by the Tripartite Commission to receive invitation places for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in triathlon.

Women: Flora Duffy (Bermuda)

Duffy has shown tremendous promise on the ITU circuit.  At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, she was a precocious 18-year old racing with the elite women and finished an impressive eighth place.  Later that year she was a silver medalist at the 2006 junior world championships in Lausanne.  In 2007 Duffy raced to her best world cup finish ever, a fifth place in Lisbon, Portugal.

Men: Omar Tayara (Syria)

One of the most promising sports stars in Syria, Tayara finished tenth at last year's Asian Championships after only starting to compete at the elite level in September 2004.  He will be the first Syrian triathlete to ever compete in the Olympic Games. 

 

According to the rules defined by the IOC Executive Board, no other National Olympic Committees (NOC) were eligible to receive invitation places in Triathlon.  The main priorities of the Tripartite process are NOCs which have yet to qualify athletes for Beijing or NOCs which have traditionally sent small delegations to the Olympic Games.  Both Duffy and Tayara must still meet the minimum eligibility criteria to compete in Beijing, which means both must be ranked in the top 140 of the ITU Olympic rankings.