That's just it though. As Fleck (or Fletch or someone with a handle like that) pointed out, the distinction between pro and amateur is blurred by the almost complete absence of prize money in the sport. It's just not very well delineated because there are so few people that can truly make a "profession" out of triathlon and thus there are very few true professionals in the world.

I train as well as I can (some weeks at what I'd consider the pro level, others, not so much), eat as well as I can (ditto), and race as well as I can (lately not doing so hot due to med. issues), and I have yet to make money...not that I deserve any, but there are at least a hundred pros out there that are faster than me, but also don't make any money, so in a sense it doesn't matter. Am I a professional? Maybe. Some would say yes, some would say no. A piece of paper says I am, but I think you and I both know that it's about so much more than that...

Technically off-topic, but relevant nonetheless:

I think that at the end of this year USAT, RD's, WTC, and some major sponsors need to sit down and have a talk about how to make the sport more worthwhile for the pros and sponsors and RD's. Within any sport, people will inevitably look to the best for inspiration, entertainment, leadership, etc. and I think in a lot of ways triathlon as a whole isn't doing a good job of turning talent into cash. As much as I hate the idea of unions, I can understand the appeal of collective bargaining on the behalf of elites to negotiate in matters such as doping control, marketing, race payouts, etc. Currently it seems to me that too many pros are settling for too little. Put pressure on the RD's and sponsors to get more money into the sport, and it automatically becomes more interesting.