TI Recognition Awards 2020: Spirit of Triathlon

This year, the Spirit of Triathlon Award goes to two very special coaches from Athlone Triathlon Club, Olivia McCartin and Michael Macken. 

Both have displayed huge amounts of resilience and community spirit through their response to the Covid-19 pandemic by helping their club members stay connected and by providing them with the opportunity to achieve their goals. 

What is the ‘Spirit of Triathlon’ Award?

The Spirit of Triathlon award recognises those individuals who illustrate the principles of the positive spirit of the sport as displayed through acts of sportsmanship and leadership in multisport, with no deference to athletic ability. 

This is a unique award, according to Triathlon Ireland CEO Darren Coombes:

“The Award was inaugurated in 2017 and you now join a list of really remarkable recipients who have massively impacted the sport. These are individuals who seek no limelight but contribute in extraordinary ways, embodying the spirit of triathlon and giving their time, skills and support always with a selfless, inclusive attitude. This is an award that discounts athletic ability, and so, your many achievements combined on the field of play were not taken into account (although we are all envious!).”

“In particular, given the difficult year experienced by society, the sport was dependent on people like you to inspire others to remain involved and engaged – your members, club and Governing Body owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”

An inspiring pair

Michael and Olivia received numerous nominations, both individually and jointly, from members of their club and community. The incredible nominations reflect the difference they have made to the members of their club, both young and old, over the past year in particular.

As club coach, Michael has been outstanding in bringing the club together, creating and running Covid-compliant club events and reaching out to club members who may feel isolated. An incredibly accomplished triathlete and duathlete, and a coach with decades of experience in the sport – Michael still ensures that club training remains inclusive for all abilities and most importantly, fun.

Olivia has impacted her club members with her selfless attitude and (to quote one of her nominations) is “a perfect example of someone who lives and breathes the spirit of triathlon” and is “at the heart of everything we do as a club.” She is always the first to lend a hand and one of the first point of contacts for new members in the club. Olivia is also one of Triathlon Ireland’s Beyond the Finish Line Advocates and, as is mentioned more than once in her nominations, is a great role model for the young athletes in the Athlone TC Junior Club.

“A huge surprise”

We caught up with the pair via Zoom to talk about their year, after they had received their awards from Triathlon Ireland CEO Darren Coombes – the surprise was still evident for the humble pair. 

This year, Olivia got huge satisfaction from being part of the Get Men Moving programme she organised in Athlone TC

“It’s not only about the sport, it’s about fostering great friendships and we’re like a little community and to me that’s what it’s all about. It’s about encouraging people to do a sport that I love and seeing them getting a huge reward out of it, that’s what gives me a buzz”

Having fun is at the heart of everything for both Michael and Olivia, and is at the core of what Michael values as a coach in helping others achieve their goals;

“I’m a serious athlete and I’m a serious coach, and Olivia’s a serious athlete and becoming a serious coach and building her experience. I take what I do really, really seriously…but when I’m there it’s always a laugh.”

“Keeping it (training) as their hobby is really important to us, not treating people like they are elite athletes or treating people like it is their job. It’s their hobby, it’s their outlet and everyone wants to do better and get better…but the important thing is that it’s their hobby and it’s fun.”

This year has been a challenge for all clubs, and Athlone Triathlon Club adapted quickly from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic by running a huge series of club training events throughout the year so far. From aquathlons and duathlons, to 10k runs and training middle distance events as well as junior aquathlon leagues, the club had a very busy year, as Olivia explains;

“We had our own little inclusive events, we had duathlons and aquathlons, and we included the juniors in all the events we did as well.”

Michael adds that “By the end of the year, we didn’t feel like we missed out on anything” – which is an impressive accomplishment in 2020!

What does winning the ‘Spirit of Triathlon’ award mean to you?

For Michael;

“For me personally, I did my first triathlon in 1988 and it seems like a lifetime ago. I’m still at it because I love it and that’s pretty obvious, I wouldn’t be at it 33 years later unless there was some passion there. For me it’s almost become part of my identity and it’s a real cultural thing…I’ve met lovely people, I’ve worked with lovely people and that for me is what it’s all about. Even though I race myself at a high level, I still love the fun of it.”

“To get something like that after 33 years is just such a lovely feel good thing, it’s actually quite emotional because I’ve never done anything for any other reward except the reward of doing what I do and loving what I do so it’s a lovely acknowledgement. I don’t have a coaching business, but I love coaching people because I feel like I’m helping them as opposed to doing it because it’s a job or role. So I suppose it’s like any of us loves to be acknowledged that you’ve done something for a good reason. That for me is what it’s all about. I feel that spirit of triathlon and I feel that spirit of friendship, of being part of something that’s wonderful. So it’s a lovely surprise and not one I ever thought I’d get.”

For Olivia;

“I guess for me it’s a ‘thank you’ from our club-mates for what we’ve done for them. I kind of feel this is more for the club than for me because without the guys in the club we wouldn’t have this and I really mean it when I say they are a great, great bunch, both young and old because we have a great mix. For me, I suppose I kind of consider myself new to triathlon, it’s a sport I took up in 2012. I alway go back to the fact that I couldn’t swim and I was petrified of the open water. I just love encouraging people to get involved in it and I love to see people that couldn’t swim or were petrified to swim getting out there and getting into the open water and I love to see the buzz they get from it. The more people I can encourage to do that, the more I will.

This year, the work of Olivia McCartin and Michael Macken has changed the lives of their club-mates during an incredibly tough time for everyone, and Triathlon Ireland are delighted to be able to recognise their efforts.

Now, anyone else off to join Athlone TC? Sounds like great craic…

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Keep an eye on our website and social media as we present all our awards for this year’s Triathlon Ireland Recognition Awards throughout the week!