Triathlon star Tyler determined to deliver
If all goes well, next Sunday Tyler Butterfield could take a major step in his return to the international triathlon scene.
The Bermudian is among the hot favourites in the Under-23 division of the triathlon World Championships in Portugal and he candidly agrees with what those who have followed his progress are saying.
?In the Under-23s there?s no reason why, on a good day, I shouldn?t come home with a medal. There?s no reason why I wouldn?t be up with the frontrunners but you never know so we?ll just see how the day pans out.
?If, at the end of the swim, I?m a minute down it means I?ll have to put more in on the bike. You can?t leave it to the run to catch up. You have to be getting off the bike with the main bunch which means it will be a harder day effort-wise,? noted Butterfield now on a brief trip back home.
Given the fact that he will be separated from the Elite competitors, he appreciates a stronger showing will be expected from him ? and he won?t be happy if he doesn?t deliver.
?There is more pressure by doing Under-23 because there?s no reason why I shouldn?t get a medal whereas in the Elite it?s not realistic though I could still have a great race.
?In Under-23 if I don?t have a top-three (finish) then the performance won?t be that great but I?d be pretty happy with a top-20 finish among the Elite. Because it?s Under-23 I expect more of myself.
?But you never know. Last year I got eighth. This year I could get tenth,? said the 21-year-old who is zeroing in on his preparation rather than on his opposition.
?I haven?t looked at the start list but it doesn?t really matter. It?s more how my performance goes than who is on the start line.?
Ironically, Butterfield wanted to compete among the Elite athletes to gain more rankings points but the sport?s world-governing body, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) placed him in the Under-23s.
?I was hoping to get a start in the Elite field but because of the wild card the ITU said they would rather me race in Under-23. They choose the starts. I have no choice,? he explained, alluding to the Olympic wild card which is earmarked for him though he is awaiting official notification.
Now back into the triathlon fray about six months after taking a lengthy break last year, the Island?s bright hope has been dedicatedly trying to regain lost ground. He has recently returned from training in Australia and will probably move base to North America in the coming months as he seeks to peak for his August showdown in Athens.
?I?ve just been trying to be consistent and not to over-train again. Race-wise I?ve just been trying to qualify for the Olympics which meant I had to get into the top 125 (in the world) which I have not done and I have one more race so it?s pretty much impossible for me to make that qualification standard,? he said.
?From my understanding I have the wild card but it still isn?t 100 percent positive because I?ve not received a formal letter saying that I have a wild card and I haven?t made the qualifying standard.
I?m excited but not too excited yet. But I?m going to prepare as if I?ve got a start (in the Olympics) and wait for the officials to tell me.?
As always swimming ? the first of the tri-discipline sport ? continues to haunt Butterfield but he is intent on tightening up that as well as his cycling and running.
?Swimming is still definitely my weakness. I have a long way to go and there?s a lot of room for improvement. I still have to take a minute off each discipline which isn?t easy and then I?ll be looking for podium places.
?It all takes time. Most people can?t believe that within six months I?m up to where I am but I don?t feel like I?m anywhere at all because I want to be up there in races and I?m not yet,? he said exhibiting that signature tenacity that drives sports stars.
Downplaying his recent 39th and 36th-place results at ITU World Cup events in Japan and Mexico respectively as nothing ?I could brag about?, he matter-of-factly noted that ?when you?re not even in the top 30 there?s a lot of work to be done?.
?To get in the top 30 would be okay. To get in the top 20 would be good and the top ten would be great because I?m only 21.?
However, when he gets on the line with the sport?s big boys in Greece there will be no consideration for his age as 50 of the world?s best fight for triathlon gold, silver and bronze.
While not fully tuned into the Olympics yet ? with the Worlds just days away ? Butterfield already knows how he would like the 1500-metre swim, 40K-bike and 10K-run to unfold.
?I would like to swim with the main bunch which would mean taking a minute off my time and I?d like to know that I have a good enough performance to be in there at the start of the run.
?Once you?re on the run, it?s a running race but you?ve got to get there and get there with them (the main bunch),? he stressed.
?If I?ve had to work on the bike to catch up it will be harder on the run but, if I?ve had a good swim and a good bike, I should do well on the run.
?I?ve never started a run without having to catch up on the bike so I don?t know (what that?s like) . . . I just know I should have a good performance if I can stick with the main bunch from early.?