Published January 20, 2015 05:37PM
Lori Bowden, Heather Fuhr And Lance Watson To Be Inducted Into Triathlon Canada Hall Of Fame
Two Canadian Ironman legends, Lori Bowden and Heather Fuhr, and accomplished triathlon coach Lance Watson will be inducted.
<strong>Two-time Ironman world champion<br> 10-time Ironman winner </strong><br><br> From Canada, Lori Bowden began her career as an age-group triathlete before becoming a pro. Once she started competing at the highest level, Bowden became one of the best in history at the Ironman World Championship. From 1997 through 2003, she had two wins (1999 and 2003), four runner-up finishes (1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001) and one third-place finish (2002). During her first Ironman World Championship victory in 1999, she became the first woman to run the marathon in under three hours (2:59:16). During her career, Bowden won 10 Ironman events including Ironman Canada four years in a row (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000). In 2002, she not only won Ironman Austria, she went 8:51:22 to become, at the time, only the fifth woman to go under the nine-hour barrier.<br><br> Photo: Lois Schwartz
Two Canadian Ironman legends, Lori Bowden and Heather Fuhr, and accomplished triathlon coach Lance Watson make up the 2015 class that will be inducted into Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame.
Lori Bowden
Starting as an age-group triathlete in Ontario, Lori Bowden went on to be one of the most respected and dominant Ironman athletes in the world. Bowden raised the Canadian flag high above the Ironman podium around the globe after rattling off seven medals in seven-straight Ironman World Championships between 1997 and 2003, including victories in 1999 and 2003. One of the most mentally tough athletes to hit the start line, Bowden also racked up five Ironman national titles in Canada, three in Austria, three in Australia, and also has one Long Distance Duathlon World Championship title to her credit.
“I am extremely grateful and excited to learn of my induction into Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame,” said Bowden, who now calls Victoria home. “Canada has a long history of amazing past and present world class triathletes, and it is such an honour to be recognized as part of the nation’s sporting history.”
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED: The 25 Greatest Female Triathletes Of All Time
Heather Fuhr
Fittingly, one of Bowden’s most respected rivals during her remarkable career, Heather Fuhr, will join her in Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame this year. Originally from Alberta, Fuhr’s incredible running speed propelled her to 15 Ironman titles around the world including Japan, Switzerland, Brazil, United States and Germany. Fuhr captured the World Championship title in 1997. Fuhr has a passion and knowledge for the sport that is unparalleled around the world, but it is her management of triathlon training camps for athletes of all age groups and ability levels that has earned her the respect and admiration she has from international triathletes.
“It is truly an honor to be inducted into the Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame,” said Fuhr. “When I did my first triathlon in 1988, I did so because it was a challenge, not because I wanted to accomplish anything in particular, or wanted to prove anything. I was hooked from that point on. The journey that followed over the next 18 years was an amazing experience. Now that I can look back and reflect on my career, I feel very fortunate that I was able to achieve what I did in the sport. To be recognized for something I simply loved doing is icing on the cake.”
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED – Recalled: A Dramatic Duel
Lance Watson
Joining the two Canadian Ironman greats in the 2015 Class is one of the nation’s most accomplished coaches, Lance Watson, who will go into the Builders Category.
A five-time Triathlon Canada Coach of the Year, Watson has nurtured some of the greatest Canadian triathletes from kids into Olympic champions. Watson’s coaching list is nothing short of extraordinary, having coached many of Canada’s Olympians and Ironman champions, including Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame athletes Simon Whitfield (Olympic gold medal) and Lisa Bentley (11 Ironman titles). Watson coached Canadian Teams winning gold medals at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games. Watson has also led Canadian athletes to 17 Ironman victories, 5 Ironman World Championship podiums, four International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship medals, and countless ITU World Cup wins.
ADVERTISEMENT
“You don’t begin a coaching career with Hall of Fame aspirations,” Watson said. “You follow your passion, develop your skills, and immerse yourself in a journey fostering the growth of Canadian athletes’ potential in both triathlon and in life. To receive this kind of recognition from Triathlon Canada is the greatest affirmation of my coaching career and my unwavering belief in the power of sport and the pursuit of excellence.”
RELATED: Coach’s Note By Lance Watson
Read more: Triathloncanada.com