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Kelly Mahoney and Dave Markham - Triathlon

Even though Kelly Mahoney and Dave Markham may not be in the running for medals at the Beijing Olympics, they expect to be running all day long.

Forty-five year old Mahoney and forty-six year old Markham have been appointed to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of the technical staff for the Triathlon event, Mahoney as a international technical official and Markham as the acting Chief Technology Official.

“As someone who grew up as a competitive athlete, the chance to participate in the Olympics as an official is unbelievably rewarding,” said Mahoney, who has been officiating since 2002. “I still remember getting the invitation in December. It was humbling and unexpected. I was pretty overwhelmed.”

Mahoney became involved in competitive triathlon with the encouragement of her husband back in 1996. She competed for three years and then got involved in coaching, directing, and officiating triathlon events. Since 1997 she has been gaining valuable experience as both a Race Director and as a Technical Delegate, which according to Mahoney is a valuable skill set.

“Because the Race Director works so closely and collaboratively with the Technical Delegate it is valuable for me to have worked in both positions,” said Mahoney. “This way I not only understand the challenges of putting on a race, I can empathize with some of the situations that Race Directors have to face.”

Markham also has a varied skill set that has propelled him in his career in triathlon. As a past competitive triathlete and founder of Triathlon Manitoba, where he served as president for five years, to his current role as the Technical and Events Director with Triathlon Canada (TC) and trainer for all the Canadian National Technical Officials in triathlon, Markham has had the opportunity to organize and officiate many events, such as the Pam Am Games, World Cups, World Championships, and the Commonwealth Games.

While Markham officiated at the 2004 Athens Games, this will be Mahoney’s Olympic debut and she is already busy preparing.

“So far, I’m working to get fit,” said Mahoney, “Triathletes are arguably some of the fittest athletes in the world, so it’s important for the officials to emulate that healthy lifestyle.”