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| Whipple Takes Silver in Women’s Triathlon! |
By Staff Sgt. Brian D. Lehnhardt
U.S. Armed Forces Sports Public Affairs |
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U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Justine Whipple (left), silver medalist in the women's triathlon, stands with the gold and bronze medal winners during a trophy presentaton after the race at the Military World Games in Mumbai, India, Oct. 21, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brian D. Lehnhardt
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MUMBAI, India, Oct. 21, 2007 – Team U.S.A. women’s triathlon strikes silver, as US Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Justine Whipple crosses the finish line just a few seconds behind China’ Xing L, and securing the best finish ever for a US athlete in an open division competition, and for the CISM World Military Games.
On the men’s side, Navy Lt. Tim O’Donnell was the first American to cross the finish line, but well behind the leaders. Preliminary and official results issued by the MWG Triathlete Race Committee were put on hold until an issue with the timing chips is resolved.
Fellow teammate Air Force Maj. Erica Foster suffered injuries to her left knee after an incident on the final stretch of the bike leg of the race, causing her and four others to crash. Though the others got back on their bikes and continued, Foster was taken via ambulance to the Naval Base hospital in Mumbai, where she received stitches to her knee, and then released. “It’s heart breaking to have trained up for this kind of competition, only to see this happen,” she said. Foster was within the top group at the time of the incident, and was favored to place alongside Whipple.
On the men’s side, Tech. Sgt. Michael Bergquist blew his back tire on a raised portion of pavement. He was being surrounded and blocked by some other bikers near the turn-around on lap two. Fortunately, he did not crash, but he was unable to continue the race.
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| Xing L from China crosses the finish line, capturing the Gold Medal in the womens Military World GamesTriathlon. U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Justine Whipple finishes in second and captures the U.S.' first silver medal ever in this event at the Military World Games in Mumbai, India, Oct. 21, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brian D. Lehnhardt Hi Res |
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For Whipple, finishing second didn’t come easy. “The race started a little rough. We (the team) were separated from the main pack of girls on the red side. The start was a little abrupt, but we were able to get into it. I fell back a little bit from the main pack, but I was able to hold my own. There were a couple girls around me to swim with. So when we got out of the water, I composed myself, and got on the bike. I was fortunate to have another girl to ride with (I don’t remember what country she was from), but we worked together phenomenally. We were both willing to take turns pulling each other until we caught up with the main group by the third lap where we kind of sat up because they were actually going pretty slow. I didn’t have a problem with that because I didn’t have to pull. I was watching some of the other top females and noticed they weren’t pulling at all. I noticed some of the girls talking tactics, but they were speaking different languages, but definitely a new experience for me. I really enjoyed the rest of the ride.
Realization of where Whipple was in the running didn’t come to her until she was told. “When I got to the run, my stomach was a little bit jostled, but I just went with it, I didn’t go out too hard, just kind of watched the girls and amazingly they came back to me and I didn’t realize what place I was in until somebody yelled at me and I realized that the girl ahead of me was winning the race.
But by then, Whipple said, she had all she could give, and was happy with the second place finish. “It was great to get an opportunity to represent the US here. It was a great race.”
Whipple will be awarded her Silver Medal prior to closing ceremonies today at 6pm India time. Soon after, the entire US contingent will board buses to begin their long trip home. |
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