You won’t meet a nicer guy than triathlete Simon Whitfield - who just coincidentally happens to be a world class athlete. It has been a pleasure to train with Simon and crew up here in Flagstaff and it looks like it has paid off for the 2 X Olympic Medalist (gold in 2000-Sydney and silver in Beijing). Oh yeah, he’s an advocate of RIDECLEAN.

Here is the CBS story and picture (David Guttenfelder/Associated Press):

Canada’s Simon Whitfield captured the silver medal in the men’s triathlon Tuesday at the Beijing Olympics.

Whitfield, who lives in Victoria, mounted a furious rally to briefly take the lead late in the closing sprint before being overtaken over the final stretch by Germany’s Jan Frodeno.

“I kind of fought my way on there, and I thought there’s no time like the present,” Whitfield said. “I tried to make it a battle of pure willpower. I gave it everything I had.”

BEIJING (AFP) - Lopez Lomong, one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan who was a victim of violence in Darfur, was named Thursday as the United States flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics.

US captains in every Olympic sport met at the Olympic Village and voted to award the honor for Friday's ceremony to Lomong, a sensitive choice given criticism of Chinese foreign policy over the conflict in Darfur.

"This is the most exciting day ever in my life," Lomong said. "It's a great honor for me that my teammates chose to vote for me.

"The opening ceremony is the best day and the best moment of Olympic life. I'm here as an ambassador of my country and I will do everything I can to represent my country well."

Lomong, 23, was kidnapped from his family by the Janjaweed militia and taken hostage. He and other youths escaped and spent three days on the run before crossing the border into Kenya and being taken to a refugee camp.