Just back from IM Brazil where I had the good fortune to stay at the same hotel as Olaf and Francois. While staying there I got to meet these guys and wanted to post something about what complete class acts both these guys are.
Olaf is obviously one of the top triathletes in the world but until the race started you would NEVER know it. He has got to be one of the most dwon to earth, humble and classy professional athletes in any sport. In the week preceding the race, every morning an informal group of us, including Olaf and Francois, would have breakfast at the hotel buffet. Other than Olaf and Francois, the group was composed largely of people like myself, less than gifted MOPers trying to become a FOPers, who just love our sport. Having come to expect professionals in most sports to be prima donnas it was so refreshing to see that Olaf was just one of the guys. That said, to have a guy like him ask us if we wanted to go for a swim or just talking about training was pretty cool for all of us. To top it all off, after the race, without any fanfare, Olaf donated a portion of his prize purse (which was only 8K in total, I think) to charity. In sum, this is a guy sponsors and fans should be flocking to because he is an absolutely top notch ambassador for our sport.
As for the idiot (crisscross?) who criticized Francois in another thread for not finishing the race: I feel sorry for you. I’d never met Francois before the race but all you’d have to do is spend about 5 minutes with the guy to know with certainty you have no idea what you are talking about. Not once in the week I spent at the race did the guy brag about himself or his accomplishments in any way shape or form. Instead, he was infallibly postive and encouraging to those around him. After he dropped out, Francois hung around well into the night cheering on eveyone else, including people he’d only known for a few days, despite his own disappointment. If you have ever had a really terrible day in something important to you, you know how difficult that is to do. Pure class.
I too have had the pleasure of spending time with Olaf and Francois (including 2004 IM Brazil), your description of them both is right on!! They are very good natured guys who love the sport and the people comprised of it!!!
While training for IMFL 2003, Oalf happend to be in town training for Kona, him and Francois were kind enough to drive 50 miles and meet me for a bike ride. It was obvious I was way out of my league, but these guys let me suck their wheel for 90% of an 80 miler. It will go down as one of the best and memorial rides of my life.
J - great post, I couldn’t have described it better myself. But I’d like to take this opportunity to say the same about you. You aren’t a Moper man, you’re a legend in your own right. There aren’t many people I’d get out of my rhythm for in an IM bike leg, but coming down that hill when you veered into the oncoming traffic, I felt the only thing to do was to sprint after you to check if your eyes were still open…
Good to hear from you, buddy. Your concern after I nearly lost it coming down that hill was much appreciated (the bike goes in the direction you point it, right?) Will be sending photos (including a great one you exiting the swim among the pros) shortly.
I had a “learning experience” type race. My first IM was IMLP last summer which I finished in 11:32. Based on my training, the experience at Lake Placid and what appeared to be an easier bike course in Brazil I was hoping to go under 11:00 at IM Brazil. This, however, was not to be.
Swim was very choppy and physical throughout. Hard for me to naviagate or draft due to the waves. Did first loop in 37:00 and second loop in 38:00 for a 1:15 swim which was decent for me given the conditions (had done 1:15 at IMLP under perfect conditions and was hoping to go under 1:10 here).
On the bike it was hot and the headwinds were pretty tough. I foolishly tried to ride the pace I’d planned rather than what the conditions allowed (a group of us rode the course earlier in the week - no wind or heat - which had many people thinking it was a very fast course). Big mistake. Living in NYC, I’d not had much opportunity to train in the heat and should have dialed it back a notch even though my legs felt solid throughout. Did first loop in 2:50 and second in 2:55 for a 5:45 (did 5:49 at IMLP and was hoping for 5:30-5:35). Still, my HR kept rising above what I’d planned as I rode into the wind and my stomach didn’t feel great, both of which were unread signs of what was to come
By the time I hit the run course it was very hot. Felt very good the first 3-4 miles and then, within the space of 100 yards, got incredibly sick. Bad, bad nausea where I could not eat or drink anything at all. I had over 22 miles (and a couple steep hills) to go and, having never felt like this, was pretty sure I would not finish. I kept shuffling along, though, because I felt like if I started to walk I’d never get going again and collapsing at mile 8 seemed no worse than doing it at mile 5. Wanted to vomit but was concerned that if I did I wouldn’t stop and would get pulled from the race (was later told that was the best thing I could have done). Stopped to pee and my HR shot up like 15 beats which was a little scary. Alot of stuff happened to me physically over the next few hours but the short story is I kept shuffling along sick as a dog until after dark. Finished the run in 4:52 for a 12:01 total. Kind of frustrating as my legs felt decent for alot of the run but I could not do more than shuffle due to the nausea. Given everything, though, I was happy in the exreme to finish under my own power.
For anyone considering the race, I thought it was very well run and the volunteers were great. There were some people drafting on the bike course (saw one big peleton which passed me going into the headwind which was a little annoying) but there were alot of marshals out there doing their best to break it up too (witnessed several drafting penalties handed out). I’d strongly recommend the race and Ken Glah’s Endurance Sports Travel who I booked the trip through. Ken’s company took care of all the hassles (airport pick-up drop off, top shelf bike mechanics, good food + hotels, etc) so you could enjoy Brazil and the race. I will definitely use EST the next time I do an IM outside the US.
As for myself, I had to learn the hard way some stuff the veterans on this site already know:
Setting hard times goals is not a good idea. IM courses and weather conditions are too varied. Trying to meet specific times keeps you from racing your race.
Need to work on my nutrition plan big time for IM Florida. I think I got sick from a combo of overheating/dehydration/not enough salt/too much solids on the bike. Nutrition really is the 4th event and needs to be studied and practiced, like everything else, under race conditions.
Its Mark! hope your well man. I echo your feelings on Olaf and that blonde haired guy…oh yes Francois. We had a great hotel and a great time. Brazil was fun and very memorable. The laughter we had will stay with me forever. Olaf remember has a new nickname “Allout”. The mixture and background of people was so diverse but we shared a common ground…Ironman, and whether you were Pro or Amateur it was never apparent until race day and that includes Joanna Zeiger.
About Olaf, I sure hope that in the near future he gets a lot more media coverage than he has until now…
There was nothing on www.xtri.com
Last year the insidetri article was so shitty that the picture of Olaf was not even showing Olaf (great for his sponsors), there was about 5 lines in tri mag…
For someone who has been so consistent over the years, won 2 IMs, it’s plain amazing that he is struggling so much financially.
So, even if I have shit races, at least I can be happy that him coming over here, and us training together really helps him…kind of his ‘training camp sponsor’
just a thought.maybe we can pass the hat here at ST to help Olaf at Kona.
It sucks to hear that someone as talented and dedicated as Olaf is struggling financially.
I for one would like to help out…we are after all a tribe.
Well, what Olaf really needs is to find sponsors (knowing that he will only accept a sponsor if 1. he believes in what they do 2. he believes he can help them)…so if anyone knows a company willing to help Olaf financially (knowing also that should he get sponsors from NA he will race more in NA next year) then feel free to email me and I will pass along to Olaf.
