Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Sweetland 41st in Olympic triathlon

Sports briefs: Hosting BC grants given out; Pemby paddlers considered for Canada Summer Games
sports_results7-1-5748d491f780982b
RIO RUN Kirsten Sweetland, shown training in Whistler, placed 41st in the triathlon at the Summer Olympic Games on Aug. 20. Photo by Blake Jorgensen

Whistler's lone Summer Olympian wasn't just battling the elements and the other racers in Brazil, it turns out.

After posting a 41st-place result in the Olympic triathlon on Aug. 20, Kirsten Sweetland posted on Instagram that she has late-stage Lyme disease.

"While it is widely known that I have been suffering from illness the last 2 seasons, a clear diagnosis was yet to be made beyond bits and pieces. After much testing we were finally able to reach a diagnosis from a test done after our final Olympic selection event in Yokohama this year," she wrote on the image-sharing site alongside a photo of her running in the forest.

"I've kept quiet because I didn't want it to define my Games experience in anyone else's eyes, or my own. We now know that I have late stage Lyme disease. I'm so proud to have made it this far under such circumstances and couldn't have done so without the amazing doctors I was able to work with thanks to my title sponsor and moral support from those closest to me."

Sweetland, who's originally from Nanaimo, also said she will begin treatment upon her return and noted she views the diagnosis as "just another setback."

The 27-year-old finished the race in a time of two hours, four minutes and 16 seconds (2:04:16), eight minutes back of winner Gwen Jorgensen of the United States.

Amélie Kretz was the highest-finishing Canadian in 34th, while Sarah-Anne Brault finished just behind Sweetland in 42nd.

Whistler receives Hosting BC grants

Three local organizations received provincial government grants to help some future events go off.

In an Aug. 17 release, the province announced $13,500 would be directed Whistler's way.

The BC Luge Association will receive the biggest chunk, with $3,500 going to the 2017 Whistler North American Cup race and another $3,000 for the 2017 Canada Cup event. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton received $5,000 for the IBSF North American Cup bobsleigh and skeleton races, while the Whistler Biathlon Society received $2,000 for the B.C. Summer Biathlon Championships.

In all, $124,500 was handed out to 23 sporting events in 17 communities. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $15,000.

Pemby paddlers make long list

Three Pemberton paddlers are still in contention to represent British Columbia at the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

In a release on Aug. 23, Canoe Kayak BC (CKBC) announced canoe athletes Hana Ronayne, Quinn Phare and Oliver Esseltine were among 28 athletes in consideration for next summer's Games in Winnipeg.

All athletes will head to Kamloops in November for a fall training camp and will compete in CKBC events as they vie for spots on the team.

Ultimately, 20 athletes (10 boys and 10 girls) will be named to the squad.