Canadian Armed Forces Captain Sharon Donnelly came close to reaching her Olympic dream back in 1984 at the age of 17 but just fell short. Now 16 years later she's in contention to win Canada's first Olympic medal of the new millennium.

  Donnelly got the Olympic bug in 1976 watching Nadia Comaneci perform at the Montreal Games. Then 16 years ago, she just missed a spot on the Canadian Olympic swim team for the Los Angeles Games. She was a competitive swimmer for seven years including four at the national level. She was the Canadian 100- metre butterfly champion in 1982. Donnelly studied at Royal Military College and it is there she began the triathlon. After graduation in 1990 she served five years as a logistics officer in the army. When the IOC announced in 1994 that triathlon was an official event she took a leave of absence to train full-time.

  She had a great season in 1999 with a World Cup silver medal and gold at the Pan Am Games.

2000 Games
Sept. 20: Men's eight: Michael Belenkie, Calgary; Bryan Donnelly, Calgary; Matt Swick, St. Catharines, Ont.; Tom Herschmiller, Comox, B.C.; Lawrence Varga, Nanoose Bay, B.C.; Morgan Crooks, Lethbridge, Alta.; David Calder, Victoria; Adam Parfitt, Victoria, and Chris Taylor, St. Catharines), finished third in repechage heat, eliminated.
Sept. 16: Sharon Donnelly, Kingston, Ont., placed 38th


Photos
Donnelly is the first Canadian out of the water
Donnelly strokes in Sydney Harbour
In the water on Sep. 13
Goofing around with Simon Whitfield

2000 Games Triathlon Coverage