Holy crap! Findlay does it again!

Paula Findlay Extends 2011 Golden Streak to Three at

Triathlon World Championship Series Race in Austria

—Findlay becomes all-time leader of World Championship Series wins by female athletewith five—


KITZBUHEL, Aut.—Canada’s Paula Findlay wins again!

The world’s number-one ranked athlete, Findlay, continued her incredible golden run to remain unbeaten in 2011 after capturing her third straight Triathlon World Championship Series win in Kitzbuhel, Austria on Sunday.

The red-headed Edmontonian successfully defended her 2010 title in the gloriousmountain town of Kitzbuhel, Austria, by taking down the world’s best with a time of two hours, five minutes, 52 seconds (2:05:52).

With her fifth victory over six races in the last 11 months, the 22-year-old Findlay ran into the history books becoming the most-winning athlete ever on the World Championship Series, and only the third women’s triathlete in the world to win three straight races. Australia’s Emma Carney and Portugal’s Vanessa Fernandez both won three consecutive World Cup starts.

“I’m thrilled again. Wow, that was a real hard race. I was running maximum the whole way,” said Findlay. “It is cool to be able to have done this much , but I go into every race the same and don’t think about that stuff much. I’m just thinking about the individual race every time.”

Findlay got off to a slow start with a difficult 1.5-kilometre wet suit swim on a cool day in Kitzbuhel, but bridged herself to the back of the lead group for thehighly-technical 40-kilometre bike course which is one of the most difficult in the world, loaded with tight turns and steep climbs.

“The swim was really difficult and I was working really hard for the full 1,500 metres. I just sat in the back of the pack for the bike. I wasn’t feeling very comfortable and I knew I needed to save energy for the run,” said Findlay. “I was getting cold and just so happy to get off the bike today.”

After battling through four seasons, including rain and hail on her Specialized bike, Findlay wasted little time out of the second transition to charge back into her office – at the front of the pack for the 10-kilometre run.

“I am comfortable in the front on the run and I do feel in control,” said Findlay. I never feel like it is in the bag, but I have learned a lot about what theother girls strengths are and how much they have left by listening to theirbreathing. I know they are hurting too and I keep learning by being in thatposition.”

Findlay began the run with a group of five, which dwindled to three with Helen Jenkins of Great Britain and American Sarah Groff heading into the bell lap. At thesound of the bell, it was clear a repeat finish of Madrid was unfolding, asFindlay and Jenkins ran side-by-side for the final lap until the young Canuck pulled away with 700 metres to go to win by four seconds.

Jenkins settled for the silver medal in back-to-back weeks with a time of 2:05:56, while Sarah Groff had the race of her life to win the bronze at 2:06:27.

“Helen and I ran neck-and-neck, and she kept picking up the pace and was at another level today,” said Findlay. “I just stayed with her as long as I could. I looked over my shoulder and saw a gap, and was able to do what I always do.”

After quietly making her World Championship Series debut with a 16th-place finish in Kitzbuhel as a 20-year-old in 2009, the triathlon world has watched the development of an absolute superstar in Findlay as her incredible run to stardom began just under one year ago when she shocked the world to win on the 2012 Olympic course in London in her second-ever World Championship Series race.

She followed that performance up with a victory two weeks later in Kitzbuhel, Austria, before a fifth-place result at the Grand Final in Budapest, Hungary in September. Findlay crushed any doubts she may be a one-season wonder by winning the season-opener this year on the iconic course in Sydney, Australia and again two weeks ago in Madrid, Spain.

“I love this place because I won twice here,” laughed Findlay. “The town is familiar to me and reminds me a lot of the mountains in Canada. I just feel so comfortable here and love it.”

This week’s victory was made extra special, as it was the first victory that her mom, Sheila, was present to watch.

“The only race she’s been at was when I finished fifth in Budapest last year so I wasn’t sure if it was good to have her here or not,” joked Findlay. “I really wanted her to be here and have her around to keep me company. My mom knows better than anyone when I need her, and when she needs to step away, so I was happy she was able to see me win one.”

Findlay will have more than just one familiar face in the stands for her next start. She will now head to Canada for two weeks of training in Victoria before suiting up for her next race where it all began – on home turf in Edmonton – for a World Cup on July 10.

“I’m so excited to have the chance to race at home,” said Findlay, who was inspired to begin doing triathlons after watching the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. “It will definitely be a special race for me, but I do have mixed feelings, because there will be huge pressure and expectations to win. But it is going to be nice to be home and in my own bed and I’m excited.”

Two other Canadians also competed on Sunday. Montreal’s Kathy Tremblay finished 32nd with a time of 2:09:04, while Vancouver’s Lauren Campbell did not finish the race.

Created in 2009, the ITU World Championship Series is an innovative series that has the world’s best triathletes competing in eight races around the world. Starting in Sydney, athletes will also compete in Japan, Spain, Austria, Germany, England and Switzerland before the Grand Final in Beijing.

Triathlon Canada is the governing body for triathlon in the country. Recognized as an Olympic medal sport since 2000, Triathlon Canada’s mandate is to promote, foster, organize and develop the sport of triathlon, and its related disciplines, in Canada. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com on the Internet.

Complete World Championship Series Results (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run): www.triathlon.org

Top-Five Women’s and Canadian Results:

1.Paula Findlay, Edmonton, CAN, 2:05:52; 2. Helen Jenkins, GBR, 2:05:56; 3. Sarah Groff, USA, 2:06:27; 4. Emma Moffatt, AUS, 2:06:31; 5. Barbara Riveros Diaz, CHI, 2:06:41.

Other Canadian Results:

32. Kathy Tremblay, Montreal, 2:09:04; DNF. Lauren Campbell, Vancouver.