Those who have followed the sport for many years know all too well how special Javier is. I had the chance to see him win his under 23 World Championships in New Zealand. You knew that day, as he sprinted away on the golf course, how special he was.
Then heart issues nearly ended it all before it really had a chance to begin. He had to lose over a season while doctors did assessments and decided whether he had to retire or continue on. Fortunately for those who love the sport he did get the nod to keep training.
By 2006 he started a string that may never be broken. Every single year, since 2006, Javier has won at least one (many times 2-3, or more) major victories on the ITU circuit. He is a 7x World Champion and will look to try to win his second 70.3 World Title next month when he goes to the USA for the Championship race.
With an Olympic silver, 5 ITU World Titles, a 70.3 World Title and an XTERRA World Title he doesn’t have to continue. But he is hungry for more.
Javier will race at the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Champs, then likely seven days later go the ITU Grand Final. While it maybe nearly impossible to win the 2017 ITU World Champs, he certainly could play the spoiler in Sept at those championships.
Today, winning the Montreal WTS Race, he became the oldest man to ever win. Hard to believe he is now 34 years of age. Javier continues to be one of the sport’s great ambassadors. Fans who haven’t had a chance to know him, won’t appreciate how generous he is with his time with the media and charity. For a dozen years, he has never refused an interview and often spends hours on race week’s helping the media and race organizers grow the sport.
Like the great Ivan Rana before him (the Spanish World Champion before Javier), Javier has been an incredible mentor and respected elder statesman for Mario Molo and Fernando Alarza. Both of these men have gotten better, partially from the wisdom and support from Javier.
The 2015 Grand Final, World Championships in Chicago saw one of the all-time great final 10k runs off the bike by Gomez and Mola. Mario won the race, Javier won the World Title and they two were very close 29min for their 10k splits.
Javier’s career has not been without setbacks. After dozens of victories in a 3 year window, he went into Beijing World Champs with an injury. He tried to hide it from his peers and the media, but on race day in Beijing, when Simon Whitfield and Bevan Doherty and Jan Frodeno started their epic final sprints, Javier had to settle for 4th and a missed Olympic medal.
Four years later, he was in perhaps the best shape of his life, and only the great Ali Brownlee could run faster to win the London Olympics. Finally Javier had the medal he wanted and needed. Four years later, Gomez was perhaps in his best position to challenge Ali for the gold at the Rio Olympics. Then sadly (for he and lovers of triathlon) a silly, bike crash broke his arm and took him out of the Rio Olympics and the crazy Grand Final in Cozumel.
Who knows if Javier will be around in Tokyo 2020. Knowing he’s aging and needs to also check out his long-distance potential, its great to see him heading back to 70.3 World Champs. Will there be an Ironman? I have to imagine yes.
The sport has known some very special - incredible athletes. I have had the chance to watch, meet, have supper and appreciate this unique man through his entire triathlon career. It was a pleasure today, to be a part of the TV Commentary team today in Montreal when he won the WTS Race as the oldest man to ever do so. Watching his emotion at the finishing line, it was clear to me, he’s still hungry for more. Triathlon in every form (drafting, non-drafting, off-road) has benefitted from this ambassador. I always like to think about the people I will miss when they are no longer racing and make sure I take EXTRA appreciation of them while they are still here. Today was another one of those EXTRA APPRECIATION DAY.
Regards
Barrie Shepley
WTS TV Commentary & Lover of all things triathlon