What's happened to US triathlon performances? USA Triathlon has huge membership, there's a gazillion races across the country, the world's best athletes are based there, it's the hub of triathlon technology, WTC call the US home, and even Slowtwitch is American...so why is that in recent times US triathletes can't win a world title? Or even get close to winning?
This might seem like a harsh assessment, but often the truth hurts...while here in Australia we're feeling rather smug after Aussies won the men's AND women's races in Kona this year. Take that, USA!!
The triathlon world does owe the US a huge thanks, first for inventing the sport - first held as a swim/bike/run "triathlon" event at Mission Bay, San Diego on September 25, 1974 - then for the legendary accomplishments of Julie Moss, Dave Scott, Mark Allen and others like them who created an aura about the sport that attracted thousands, if not millions more people to participate. The early, "good old days" are still talked about today and although the sport has evolved their exploits - and results - have set the standard for US triathletes of today to aspire to.
Yet in recent years none have won any of the "big 3" titles of ITU (& Olympics), 70.3 and Ironman. It seems that even home ground advantage of 70.3 and Ironman World Championships isn't helping. The poor folks on Slowtwitch are going to choke on their Wheeties as they read this...
So what's gone wrong? While I'm a Pacific Ocean away from USA, let me consider a few aspects and ponder why they haven't won a world title recently...
Population - 310 million people is a lot of people from where a triathlon champion can come from. Sure the US reportedly has the highest obesity rate in the world (closely followed by Australia, I might note), but that still leaves a lot of people who are fit, active and who are members of USA Triathlon (130,000). So it's not for lack of numbers US isn't succeeding...just look at New Zealand with about 1% of the US population.
Geography/Climate - USA is a big country, covering a very wide geography and wide climate conditions from Hawaii to Alaska, from Death Valley to the Rocky Mountains. Boulder is a mecca for the world's triathletes to converge on for it's ideal training environment, and it's only one of a number of places along with San Diego, Bend, Lake Tahoe that even I know of as popular training locations. So it's not for lack of training opportunities US isn't succeeding.
Genetics - If this was a story about long distance running the easy cop-out is to say that East Africans have some kind of genetic-based biomechanical advantage (whatever that is). The same cannot be said in triathlons (except for lack of opportunity, based on socio economic factors - see next point) as history is showing there is no dominant race of athletes in triathlons. Champions have come from all parts of the world. So it's not for genetic disadvantage US isn't succeeding.
Socio Economic - Triathlon participation is defined by people who can afford it; it's not a cheap sport...otherwise it might be dominated by Africans (can you imagine that!!). USA is the biggest economy in the world, is an advanced, developed country of opportunity. So even though there are many people in poverty, there's more people who are not and amongst those a significant number who have the disposable income to event get started. And once they do, the size of the economy and participation base is enough to ensure they continue on and have support and opportunity to do so. So it's not for poor socio economic standing US isn't succeeding.
National Body - USA Triathlon is the governing body, and their web-site promotes a 130,000 membership base. On the elite level, USA Triathlon is responsible for the selection and training of teams to represent the United States in international competition. So by extension it would be fair to say that USA Triathlon is well supported, resourced, and capable of developing world champion athletes...as they have in the (distant) past. So it's not for a weak national body US isn't succeeding.
Race Opportunities - Along with Europe, the USA is where aspiring triathletes head to develop their abilities in any of a huge number of races against world-class fields. For many athletes this is their career (albeit briefly for some) and a stint in USA can make or break them. The USA features draft-legal events, non-drafting, multiple 70.3 and full IMs, plus races in all kinds of venues and locations. If you're an athlete looking for hot competition, USA is the pace to go. So it's not for a lack of racing opportunities US isn't succeeding.
Technology - It's widely acknowledged that USA is a world leader in technology in many fields. After all, the Americans were the first country to put a man on the moon!!! This filters down to triathlon technology mainly via bikes, but also in the area of training equipment, sports science facilities, and more. An off-shoot includes coaching knowledge and expertise, where often the best coaches are attracted for financial reasons which just builds the pool of coaching talent available, with access to quality information to help them. So it's not for a lack of technology US isn't succeeding.
Cultural - Here in Australia we see Americans as not lacking in confidence, and loudly and proudly celebrating success in many endeavours. USA is usually at/near the top of the medal winning table at any world championship in swimming and athletics (to name just two relevant sports), and have had great success in cycling in recent years. As they say, success breeds success and this often spins off from one sport to another. So it's not for a lack of a success culture US isn't succeeding.
I'm not sure what other aspects of triathlon to consider where USA is often at an advantage, let alone a disadvantage, in their quest to win world championships. Maybe it's just a generational phase and in 10 years time the story will be different. If the Slowtwitch readers are still tuned in they might make comment. But as it is right now the power base in triathlon is spread far and wide, which does is not including US triathletes.
No comments:
Post a Comment