Paula Findlay Heads To Olympics Under The Radar

In early 2011, Canada’s Paula Findlay looked like she would be the odds-on favorite to win the gold medal in London. A year of injury has changed that.

There is no story in sports better than that of the dark horse.

Unless its the one about the comeback kid.

Small-town Finnish policeman Lasse Viren won the 10,000M final during the Munich Games in 1972 after picking himself up from a fall just before the halfway point.

Down by 32 points, the Buffalo Bills still fought back to win the NFL wildcard game in 1999.

And recall the many headlines of past contenders who were thought to be damaged goods, or past their primes, but still made the podium during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

On Saturday, Canadian triathlete Paula Findlay could become one of the most captivating stories of these Games, if she defies the gods and swims, bikes and runs her way onto the podium.

The red-haired Edmonton Olympian was on a fast track in 2010, dominating sports sections worldwide.

And into 2011, it was hard not to see her as anything but one of Canada’s premiere athletes. Including on the front of a cereal box.

But Nike is fickle. Not the shoe company, but rather the goddess of victory, and she likes to toy with the most talented mortals.

So for much of the past year, Findlay has been sidelined by a right hip injury.

Read more: Lfpress.com