Well I divided my fav triathletes into Short/Long, so here:
Long Course:
Luc Van Lierde - I wanna see him win Hawaii again (stupid injuries), he’s probably the most gifted triathlete out there (along with Tim DeBoom etc).
Luke Bell - Don’t really have a reason, he’s just cool. I can’t really find any info on him though, so if anyone finds any profile/interview about him please post it.
Short Course:
What’s a sports fan without some favorites? I’ll give it a go…
I like Larsen. Don’t know why – I just do.
I also root for Gordo Byrne. Started late in life, quit his job and trains like a mofo. Lives his triathlon life out in the open, with every idea he has put out there for the rest of us to consider. Kinda like our host here, Slowman. But Slowman’s not elite anymore, so he’s not on my list. 
On the female side, that Natascha’s got a smile that won’t quit. I like her, too.
Ah, how to define “favorite”?
I like Julian’s picks, both male and female, and I count both SL and Gordo as friends. Natasha just does her own thing, and, didn’t come from the usual sporting background.
Others on my fave list: Bryan Rhodes, Cam Widoff, Wendy Ingraham, Lisa Bentley, Tomas Hellreigel, PNF, Jugen Z., Normann Stadler.
Short course: Victor Plata.
My all-time favorite elite triathlete(s)? Mark Allen and Scott Molina
But maybe more than any of the above, I admire guys like Bill Bell, Norton Davey and the rest of the IronGents who are still out there giving it 100% when most of their peers are sitting on the porch.
We all have them and love rooting for them:
Long Course: James Bonney-local Texas guy who I get to see at local races. The guy is just cool and looks fast. Hasn’t broke through yet and may never get on the podium at Kona but he is going to bust his a** trying.
Short Course: Hunter Kemper-been rooting for him before the olympics. I love his style and envy his awesome runs. I would love to see what he could do on the long course. Hope to see him in Athens kicking Simon’s butt.
Daniel
“Our bodies are our gardens - Our wills are our gardeners” -William Shakespeare
Chris McCormack - leaves it out there very time he races. Tells the story about inviting Stuart O’Grady to watch an Oly race (draft legal) here in Australia a few years back, and that they rolled around the bike course sitting on 35kph. He was so embarrassed to have O’Grady watch such a display of apathy on bike (with the bunch content to let the result rest on the run) that he vowed that he would really push himself on the bike whenever he raced from them on. (Urban myth has him threatening to compete in a subsequent race on a MTB just to prove how little the pro’s on the bike were going for it!!)
Luke Bell - up and comer and will be an awesome athlete with experience behind him. (Also a mate, so have to plug him.)
And yes, there is an obvious Aussie bias here, but hey?!?!?
Long Course: Hands down Lothar Leder…the guy is amazing. Does 5 plus IM’s a year and usually is always on the podium!
On the female side: Lori Bowden…gutsy, competes alot, mentally strong even when having a bad day (IM Canada last year)
Short Course: Craig Walton and don’t really have a favorite on the female side
I second the vote for Luc van Lierde. His talent speaks for itself, but he seems like an all-around great guy.
There are plenty of shots of him on NBC’s Ironman coverage giving a little wave or thumbs-up or pat on the back to fellow competitors… Reid, Hellriegal, Zack, etc. And that goes for whether he is leading or chasing!
I remember an article in Triathlete Mag when Luc won St. Croix (2000?) and he backed off a stride to LET another cometitor take the run PRIME, and then cruised on to win by several minutes. That’s class!
All time fav: Dave Scott
So does anyone have any info on Luke Bell?
Sonni Dyer. Local boy. Extremely approachable. Sincere in all aspects of his relationships with athletes looking to him for advice. Injured this year, but still out at most every race I go to, cheering on all the athletes, no matter what their level, no matter whether they take coaching instruction from him or not. Real class act.
Anne B. Local Gal. She’s only 17 I think, so I’m not putting her full name here. Her dad and I are in the same age group and take turns beating one another by a minute or so from race to race. She beats us both every time…very few women do that, and she’s still so young with so much talent. If she really pursues this Triathlon thing, I’ll be looking for her to make waves in the pro ranks some day.
I agree with you about Sonni. I did Over the Mountain this past weekend and he was out on the course as well as the finish line. Great guy, good heart. Good coach.
on the pro side - I like Chris Leito. Can’t explain. I have a picture of me with Hunter Kemper so I follow how he’s doing plus he has ties to NC.
Simon Lessing!
The good thing about Simon is that I don’t have to explain why he’s my favorite triathlete. He’s simply the best! 
Paulo
Steve Larsen - I just like the fact that he’s shaking it up, and throwing it all out there.
Michellie Jones - She’s a great personality and has been crushing it for years. I hope she’s on the line in Athens.
Riccitello - Simply b/c he’s hilarious.
Jessi Stensland - well errr…just because
Joe Bonness is my hero
.
Long course:
Wingnut and Natascha, who after racing at Hawaii 2000 came back in the evening and stayed for hours until midnight catching late finishers and putting the leis over their heads and congratulating them, didn’t see any of the guys doing that!!!
Spencer and Macca, if they’re gonna win they are doing it the hard way and live or die by their work ethic.
Short course:
Tim Don, as a hard working pro who got spanked for the first couple of years moving up from the juniors and paying from his own pocket, now he’s the world Du champion after blowing through Greg Bennett on the run, just as he did at St. Anthony to win earlier this month.
Michelle Dillion cos… well, get a picture of her and you’ll know! (Shallow,shallow man!)
Julian in England.
Shallow, shallow, SHALLOW!
But while we’re on the subject, whatever happened to Annaleah Emerson?
Paulo
I like Julian’s picks too, especially Larsen. You have to admire anyone that can go to WF this year only having run 2 miles in the 8 weeks beforehand and destroy the bike course record in that crappy weather, then hold on for a 2nd place finish. Muy grandes cajones!
Don’t think anyone has mentioned Greg Welch yet. I’m sorry he was forced into retirement while in his prime. And you have to admire Christian Bustos, another guy who would have done more if not for medical problems (ie, runover by a jeep during competition!).
Long Course Men: Gordo, Macca, Larsen, Zack - I think Zack has another win in Hawaii in him, and the others will get theirs in due course. That is, if Larsen learns to run.
Long Course Women: Fuhr, Bentley, Badmann
Short Course Men: Courtney Atkinson (I don’t know why I dig this kid so much, I just do!)
Short Course Women: Michellie Jones
“I think Zack has another win in Hawaii in him”
Khai, was there an Ironman Hawaii I missed?
This triathloner is another person who races in the NCTS. Aaron Keifer is a wonderful individual. He’s really had a break-out season, with two wins and a third in his last three races. I know him from a few training rides and seeing him at the races and around town. He’s always great to speak with and very friendly to all other triathloners.
Outside of racing, I know he works at Inside Out Sports and is working on a Masters degree at NC State. I’m always inpressed with how someone can put in so much time with graduate level school work and be a very competitive triathlete.
Adam