Top triathlete Alec Rukosuev believes Bermuda's athletes can enjoy international success, so long as they rid themselves of the `Island' mentality.

Born in western Siberia, Rukosuev defected and is now an American citizen.

He is based in Florida, but visited Bermuda at the weekend when he took up the invitation to be the guest of honour at the Bermuda Triathlon Association's awards dinner.

Along with his speaking duties, Rukosuev also took time out to give a clinic to Bermuda's own triathletes, both young and old, at Clearwater Beach.

He was impressed with what he saw, despite his limited time with them, and sees no reason why they cannot achieve success.

"I saw a lot of enthusiasm in the junior group. I had about 40 kids there.

"They were very enthusiastic and very energetic and there was a lot of future there," Rukosuev said.

But he said the best way to get the optimum out of the youngsters was by pushing them to their limit, and never letting them settle for second best.

"It is probably a mind thing - they have to get out of the Island mentality and say `we need to compete with the best' and not just try to make participants out of these kids," he said. "You need a different mindset - you need to say `why not? why can't we produce the best ones'."

Rukosuev believes the BTA are going about the job in the correct manner, but had some advice.

"You need to set higher standards. Do what you are doing now but set high goals," he said. "For example . . . I have kids swimming and while I am happy when they have broken times I have high expectations and want to push them on to their best and not be satisfied.

"It doesn't take great talent to make a world champion. I just believe it's the right work and good coaching and I believe pretty much anyone could be in the top ten in the world."

One Island athlete who fits Rukosuev's bill is Tyler Butterfield, the BTA's Male Triathlete of the Year.

If there was a fault with him "it would be his inability to say `no' when asked to do something," the audience at the awards was told. "It is because of this fault that he is now honoured as our Male Triathlete of the Year.

"Only a few years ago it took numerous phone calls, from a number of people, to convince this young man that he should do `just one more race'. The rest, as they say, is history."

Butterfield had an incredible year in 2002, coming 14th in a world class field at the Commonwealth Games and taking bronze in the World Junior Triathlon Championships, among other achievements.

"He is a young man who works very hard to achieve his goals and has been quoted as saying `I learned how to run from my brother as he always wanted to beat me up. I wish he would have tried to drown me, so I would have learned how to swim faster too!'"

The Female Triathlete of the Year award went to Karen Smith, another Commonwealth participant, who finished 15th overall in Manchester.

"A characteristic of a dedicated athlete is being able to set ambitious, but realistic, goals and give 110 percent effort in the achievement thereof," those gathered heard. "(Karen) has certainly shown this characteristic in the last season."

The Best New Triathlete award went to Mark Peeters, who has a strong running and swimming background.

"In days gone by he was a very capable 1,500 metre runner," the audience heard. "He has shown a strong aptitude for cycling and his performances in two races this year have been impressive to say the least."

In the Shell Gold Cup Sprint Triathlon he came first in the 30 to 39 age division and in the Bank of Bermuda triathlon he came fourth in the same category.

Matthew Herring received the Peter Grayston Special Achievement Award after completing his first year as a senior athlete.

A successful season locally, where he put many established athletes to shame, was capped with an experience at the Worlds where he came 69th in the 16 to 19 year-old division.

"To think that this young man is only 16 means he has a few more years in his World Junior age category . . . if he maintains the rate of improvement he has shown in the last year, then the sky is the limit," the audience was told.

The Most Improved Triathlete award went to Darren Maksymetz who was described as a "hardworking competitor" who was "more than willing to impart his knowledge of training and nutrition to those in need of assistance".

The highlight of his year was when he came 89th overall and 18th his age division in the Canadian Ironman Championships.

The female award went to Cora Lee Starzomski. Those assembled were told that "coming from a swimming background is always a plus but if you have not had the exposure to the other two disciplines it can lead to an equally hard struggle to master the sport".

"(Starzomski) sets herself tough goals and strives to achieve them as best she can," it was said.

The Jim Butterfield Long Service award was picked by none other than . . . Jim Butterfield on behalf of Butterfield and Vallis.

The audience was told that "when the going gets tough and not everything is available for an event, they have, on countless occasions come to the mark and taken up the slack".

Finally, the John Buchanan Club Person of the Year was Nigel Godfrey.

"When help is needed he is one of the first to volunteer his services," those gathered heard. "He truly is a tireless worker and most deserving of this award."