Whitfield’s London Sojourn Ends Early After Bike Crash

Canadian Olympic flag-bearer Simon Whitfield was knocked out of the 2012 Olympics on Tuesday after crashing his bike into a curb and a guardrail during the men’s triathlon, his signature event. Whitfield sustained minor injuries, lacerating his feet and bruising his legs and requiring stitches in a toe.

The accident happened shortly after he left the transition area on his bicycle; Whitfield had just completed the 1.5-kilometre swim and emerged from the water in 15th place. Forced to withdraw, Whitfield’s career as an Olympian came to an abrupt halt; the 37-year-old Victoria, B.C. resident had said this fourth trip to the Summer Games would be his final one.

“I hit a speed bump just as I went to put my shoe on, I think,” Whitfield said in an interview. “I’m not quite sure what happened. I hit the speed bump on a funny angle and ended up crowd surfing, which is good for concerts and not so good for sport events.

“My bike went out from underneath me. I have some pretty serious gashes: My big toe is stitched up, both knees have seen better days, my shins have seen better days. I’ve got a good goose egg on my head.”

It was a brutal end for Whitfield, who won the gold medal in the event in Sydney in 2000 and silver in Beijing four years ago. As word spread of the crash, Canadian athletes took to social media with their reactions, expressing their sympathies and thanking Whitfield for his efforts.

Another debate rekindled because of the incident, as some mentioned the “flag-bearer’s curse.” Whitfield himself had dismissed talk of such a curse, pointing out that five of Canada’s last six flag-bearers had medalled in their events.

Nonetheless, it was a stunning end to a sojourn in London fraught with controversy. Whitfield had spoken out on behalf of Paula Findlay, who came in last in the wormen’s triathlon a few days ago. She crossed the finish line in tears, repeatedly apologizing for her performance.

Whitfield jumped to her defence, asking for accountability from Findlay’s coach and other officials for how Findlay’s hip injury had been handled. “She’s not a wind-up toy that you just send off … I’m not saying people should be fired. I’m just saying they should stand up and say ‘that one is me.’ Because it was all on Paula (on Saturday). We all saw that.”

Now Whitfield’s own athletic career has apparently concluded not with a podium appearance, but with a damaged bicycle and a stitched-up big toe. In the end, even world-class athletes are only human, after all.