Sydenham triathlete takes the bronze at World Championships

Oct 08, 2009

Sydenham triathlete Scott Takala (far right) wins a bronze medal at the ITU World Championships Grand Final held in Gold Coast, Australia Sept. 12. Photo courtesy of Scott Takala

No one was more surprised than 24-year-old Sydenham triathlete Scott Takala, who after completing a full course triathlon at the ITU World Championships Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia on Sept 12, found out minutes after the race that he had won the bronze medal. The win makes Takala the 3rd fastest triathlete in the world in the 20 to 24-year-old category.

Scott recalled, “I was absolutely ecstatic. I went into the race hoping to place in the top 15 but when I found out later that I won the bronze I couldn’t believe it.”

Standing 5’7” and weighing 140 lb. Scott admitted that “When the other 70+ competitors saw me they didn’t see a real threat.” But a threat he was.

The race began with the 1500m swim in the shark-infested waters of the Pacific Ocean where Scott said, “Special nets, sonar equipment and pontoon boats with guys armed with tranquilizer guns were stationed to deal with any rogue bull sharks.”

It was in the swim portion of the race that Scott made a quick intuitive decision that got him out of an initial set back.

“I got spit out in the swim. I was kicked in the head and pushed and pulled and was way back in 50th place after the first buoy. Then I saw an opportunity and I decided there and then to take it.” He and another competitor moved to the side of the pack of swimmers, drafting off of each other which proved a very wise move and by the end of the swim Scott gained ample ground, moving from 50th into 22nd place.

At the bike transition Scott ran as hard as he could to his bike and rode full out for the entire 40 km, pushing himself into the #15 spot.

In the 10 km run Scott had a pre-planned strategy. “I knew that if I could run just 1 or 2 seconds faster than the other guys I could catch up.” He started the run at a comfortable pace, not wanting to spend himself too early and leave himself with nothing. He recalled, “I felt great after 3 km and with 2km left to go in the race I really put the hammer down.” His winning time was 1.54:23.

Prior to the Worlds, Scott competed at the ITU Canadian National Championships in Kelowna on Aug. 23 and finished 19th.

He ran against Canadian Olympic athletes Simon Whitfield, Brent McMahon and Paul Tichlarr.

In that race he also ran into trouble in the swim and fell behind the 1st pack on the bike portion and was not able to make up ground. Going into the run he knew then that he wouldn’t be able to catch the leaders. He admitted, “I wasn’t too worried about it though. My focus was on the Worlds and the Kelowna race really helped me to prepare for it.”

Scott is now back in Sydenham, where as a recent graduate from Trent he hopes to find himself a job. As far as his racing career goes he plans to apply for his International Competition Card, which will allow him to race internationally with other elite athletes and gain ITU points that will grant him world-class ranking. “My long term goal is to keep racing and get as close to becoming an Olympian as I possibly can.”

Scott is thankful for the support of his family and friends and also to the Sydenham Legion, whose donations through their Sydenham Supports program assist athletes like Scott, who have dreams of making it onto the world stage.