Simon Whitfield Announces Retirement From Triathlon

Canada’s Simon Whitfield, the 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medalist and Canada flag bearer at the 2012 London Olympics, announced this week that he is officially retiring from triathlon to pursue a career in leading a Fantan Group’s sports entertainment division in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

“Today marks the end of my career as a professional athlete; it’s been an incredible journey and an amazing chapter in my life,” Whitfield said in an announcement on his website. “I grew up dreaming of representing Canada at the Olympic Games, though I never imagined I would have the honor of wearing the maple leaf four times, winning two Olympic medals, and bearing the flag.”

“I grew up with triathlon,” he continued. “I was first introduced to the sport when competing in the Kids of Steel races organized by Joan and Rudy Hollywood in 1986.  Triathlon provided wonderful memories, friendships and experiences that I will hold close forever.”

“It is time to shift gears,” he says. “I have spent years with athletes of all ages – sharing – motivating – challenging. As part of the Fantan team, I have the ideal partnership to put much of what I’ve learned as a competitive athlete toward design and innovation in sports entertainment.”

Whitfield is a legend of the sport. His international achievements include being the first triathlete to win Olympic gold during the sport’s inaugural year in 2000, Olympic silver in 2008, gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, 12 Canadian championships and 14 world cup victories.

Read the complete announcement and learn more about his future ventures at Simonwhitfield.com.

PHOTOS: Two-Time Olympic Medalist Simon Whitfield