Simon Whitfield

dad who loves dancing with his little girls. oh and the relentless pursuit of athletic excellence.
 http://simonwhitfield.com

Even as Simon Whitfield crashed in the Olympic triathlon he had already shown himself to be a fitting representative of Canada. Long before he started the race he had spoken in ways that showed that he took it seriously that his wife and children sacrificed much to allow him to be an international triathlete. He spoke of his wife and himself being a team. Whitfield is a man who gives all he has got to run the race marked out for him but he also recognizes he does not do this without a Canadian team and a family that supports him.

After his crash and withdrawal from the race he had this to say,
“It was hard to see my daughter [Pippa] upset and my wife. I was pretty upset. That’s life. That means it means something." He recognizes that his athleticism means something to him, to his wife, and to his children. He was upset for them because he knew that they had poured much into his success.

Yet, he and his wife were also good-natured and expressed their sense of humour:
He said, my wife “hugged me, my collarbone is quite sore, and she said but you can still drink beer with your right hand. We had a good laugh at that.”

I am proud that Simon Whitfield carried the flag for Canada in the parade of nations. He is an awesome Canadian role model.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.