Paula Findlay

Biography

Paula Findlay shocked the world in 2010 when she became the first Canadian triathlete to win a World Triathlon Series event, taking first place in London in just her third start on the elite circuit. She made it back-to-back victories with a win in Kitzbuehel. Findlay then started the 2011 season with three straight WTS victories in Sydney, Madrid and Kitzbuehel. Bothered by a hip injury for the rest of the season, she battled back to make her Olympic debut at London 2012 where she fought through pain to courageously finish the race. The injuries, including stress fractures in her pelvis, continued over the next two years, but she made her return to major international competition with an impressive 15^th place finish at the 2014 WTS Grand Final in her hometown. She capped the 2014 season with a silver medal at the Cartagena World Cup. In 2015 she posted an eighth place finish at the WTS event in London, her best result on the circuit since her string of victories four years earlier. Findlay first represented Canada at the 2006 World Junior Championships and won a bronze medal in the U23 World Championship at the 2009 Grand Final.

GETTING TO KNOW…

Family: Parents Max and Sheila Findlay… Younger brother Colin and younger sister Adrienne… Her mother was a national team rower and won a triathlon bronze medal in the 50-54 age group at the 2010 World Championship Grand Final… Her brother competed in rowing at the 2013 Canada Games… Getting into the Sport: Started competing in triathlons at age 16… Had been a competitive runner and swimmer and then got a bike for Christmas and did her first triathlon that spring… Had her Olympic dream sparked by Simon Whitfield’s silver medal at Beijing 2008… Outside Interests: Studying biological sciences at the University of Alberta… Was a dancer (ballet, jazz, tap) for 12 years until high school… Enjoys cross-country skiing, cooking… Would like to work in medicine, as either a doctor, physiotherapist, or chiropractor… Odds and Ends: Favourite mottos: “Never, never, never give up” and “Float like a butterfly sting like a bee”… Role models are Simon Whitfield and Adam van Koeverden…