World's Top Triathletes On Guam

Some of the world's top triathletes descended upon Guam for the 2007 XTERRA Guam. Never has a field of this number and caliber participated in a local race. Among the visiting elite triathletes were Olivier Marceau from Switzerland (former Olympian and 5 time XTERRA Saipan champion as well as 3 time 2nd place finisher at the XTERRA World Championships), Julie Dibens from the United Kingdom (former Olympian, 2007 XTERRA World Champion, St. Croix 70.3 champion), Jamie Whitmore from the USA (2004 XTERRA World Champion, 4 time XTERRA Saipan champion), Renata Bucher from Switzerland (3 time XTERRA Saipan champion), Sam Gardner from the UK (former British Mountain Biking champion, 2nd place 2007 XTERRA Guam & Saipan), Sybille Matter from Switzerland (2nd place 2006 XTERRA World Championship), Taro Shirato from Japan, and Sergey Makarenko from Russia. Formidable challenges were put forth by international and local amateur racers, Jim McConnel (UK), Art Guerrero (GUAM), and Thierry Champoussin (FRA).

This year's race is scheduled a week before XTERRA Australia Championship so there is hope that athletes headed down under will make a stopover on Guam to give the course a try and possibly walk away with a bit of spending cash for their efforts.

Pro triathletes at a press conference a few days before the 2007 XTERRA Guam.
(left to right: Jamie Whitmore (USA), Olivier Marceau (SWI), Sybille Matter (SWI),
Sam Gardner (UK), Renata Bucher (SWI), Julie Dibens (UK).