Published July 29, 2011 10:09AM
2009 champ O’Donnell is considered a favorite at this weekend’s Viterra Ironman 70.3 Calgary.
Tim O’Donnell loves Calgary. So does his girlfriend and fellow triathlete Mirinda Carfrae. And it’s no wonder. The couple has enjoyed plenty of success at the Viterra Ironman 70.3 Calgary; O’Donnell and Carfrae won the inaugural race back in 2009, while Carfrae repeated in 2010.
But last year, O’Donnell had to take a pass on Calgary because he was defending his 2009 ITU longdistance world champion title in Germany. This year, however, he’s back for more.
“I really enjoyed it,” said 31-year-old O’Donnell, who calls Boulder, Colo., home now. “Ghost Lake is beautiful, it was a really nice bike course, just a great crowd and great people. Everybody there is so excited to have us. It’s nice to go to races where they appreciate you being there.
“I just wanted to get back. I didn’t want to miss it again.”
In 2009, O’Donnell set the course record in three hours, 55 minutes and 28 seconds and translated that last year into a silver medal at the 2010 ITU long distance world championships, claimed the U.S. pro 70.3 champion title, and was third place at the 2010 Ironman 70.3 world championships in Clearwater, Fla.
Read more: Calgary Herald