PSA: KONA NOW (spoiler with results)

[Jon]

If anyone wants this topic to carry on or wants to jump in, I would suggest you please read her bio here : http://www.chrissiewellington.org/about/school-days/  Just read the blurbs and click on the heading on the left hand side (it is a good read and only takes 5-10mins).
It honestly doesn't bother me, if no one wants to discuss this more, but I think a good starting point in any case, is looking and dealing with facts.  If one reads her bio, I believe there are several indicators/traits (both physical and personal) that stand out very early on and give both a reasonable foundation and explanation to the type of person she is and the athlete she has become.   I believe her bio gives some valid answers to the question: why is she so good?

I would then suggest taking a peak at her race results here: http://www.chrissiewellington.org/results/  To me, what is noteworthy is the early times she posted (she was in fact, always 'that' good) and then the progression she makes - impressive, yes, but in my opinion also believable in the context of both her background (personal traits, abilities) and surroundings (coaching, training time, etc).

If you have more time, read her blog a bit.  For me, the more I read of her thoughts and know of her story, the more I am inclined to believe this person is of moral character and not the type to dope. 

Lastly, I will point to a few recent tweets in the past weeks leading up to Kona from her:
Oct 6 - In response to another person suggesting drugs -
She Tweets: 'i am tested all year. i'm clean. & i hope one day you too can raise your own game to defy thoughts of what is humanly possible'.
'so what more can i do? you tell me. i am clean and i can look in the mirror knowing i have never doped.'
Sept 23 - 'Early 6am drug call from the drug testers this morning.  Blood and urine.  I am sure they were impressed with my 'just got out of bed look'.
In response to: 'who tests you? Your countries federation or triathlons governing body?'
She tweets: I get tested by both UKSport & the WTC, plus other national federations during competition. See: http://www.chrissiewellington.org/drug-tests/'  (pretty sure she does not have to post this info, but she does and is an big advocate for the testing any tie it comes up in media talks).

Jon

[Sandy]

I am not saying she is, I'm just not convinced she isn't...obviously along with a number of other people.  I use to argue that no one in endurance sports was doping, then along came Nina Kraft.  Natasha Badmann was a late bloomer with awesome results but she had her off days and showed her human side.  In light of a recent Canadian Triathlete being suspended for performance enhancing drugs it just reminds us that though can protest too much.  I think Lance is a good example of test, test, re-test and then test some more, never being caught but being crucified anyway. 

I watched as Ben Johnson was vilified by a second place Carl Lewis who then years later admitted to doing the same thing. Jackie Joyner Kersey, Antonio Pettigrew, Marion Jones, and at one point 47 players on the US Pro Tour (tennis).  This doesn't even bring into the discussion professional cycling, body building and rowing.

Years ago a study of professional athletes was done with one question "Would you do whatever you had to do to win even if it meant you would die the next day."  More then half of the athletes said "yes".

As a final comment on Chrissie, I really hope she is not and that she is just "that" good but I won't need a chair if it comes out some day that she is.

[tire guy]

Jon
Thanks for taking the time to do all that research, I read her bio etc. & found it interesting,it did not change my opinion & a couple things reinforced it.Don't get discouraged by my closed mind I've been told that I'm some what hard headed & opinionated......crap that means Beth is right  well there is 27 years worth of kissing up I better get started on.

[Jon]

@ Dennis - I'm not discouraged, just wanting to present direct facts from her story that lead me to take the position I have.  That being said, next time I see Beth, I'll have to ask her, if she is enjoying the 'kissing up'!? 

@ Sandy - I understand there have been many in sport who have crossed that line.  I am simply taking each athlete at their own word and reputation and making a call on each case.  Dennis saw her 'off' performance, and thought 'hmm, less drugs this year??'.  I saw it and took the recent crash as a direct attribute to sub-par race (in which she barely won and did not crush the field).  As a follow-up, I just read an article stating that her injuries were in fact much worse than just bruising: http://triathlon.competitor.com/2011/10/news/the-truth-about-chrissie-wellington%E2%80%99s-injuries_41672

Again, I think its right to take each athlete 'by case'.  I don't have the time to make a list, but an athlete of similar stature comes to mind.  Paula Newby Fraser, one of the all time greats of the sport, had a similar reputation as an athlete that could only loose if she beat herself.  She dominated the sport drug free.  She had 24 wins and 8 Kona titles.  Right now, I believe Chrissie is on a similar path and in the general fan commentary I read and hear, she is currently being viewed by the cast majority as a standout athlete, drug free without direct cause to believe otherwise.   

 

[Sandy]

Jon, I hope you're right.

[Jon]

Well isn't that a very nice birthday present! Can never have too much hope! 

[Jeff]

..........but she thinks your wrong!

[Jon]

That's ok Jeff, my love goes much deeper