TORONTO – Olympic triathlon champion Simon Whitfield stopped by The Morning Show to talk about his life in semi-retirement and a new program to help support the next generation of Canadian athletes.
The Kingston, Ont. native represented Canada in four Olympic Games, winning a gold in Sydney, a silver in Beijing, and acted as Canada’s flagbearer in London.
Whitfield has now teamed up with other veteran Olympians and CIBC to provide funding and mentorship to Canada’s next batch of amateur athletes, and explained their goal is to fill the gap between when young athletes leave home and make a national team.
“Triathlon Canada did an excellent job of funding the top level of athletes. The glitch was-how do you get to that level?” he said. “CIBC Team Next is giving the opportunity to 67 young athletes to transition from that kind of provincial, national, to international stage…in a unique way because they’ve paired it with mentors.”
Whitfield said he and his fellow former Olympians will act as a sounding board and provide advice, and joked he’d even teach them how to carry a flag.
While acknowledging the financial support isn’t “terrific” after their careers are over, he said his choice to become a triathlete wasn’t based on financial reward.
“For me it was about carrying the maple leaf; for me it was about hearing the anthem,” he said.
Watch the video above to hear more about Whitfield’s transition from athlete to retirement, and what it takes to be a triathlete in Canada.
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