From the moment Simon Whitfield burst onto the world stage
at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games as triathlon’s first Olympic
champion, his winning personality and stellar athletic abilities have
inspired young people around the globe.
In Simon Says Gold, Simon describes his personal journey to
Olympic glory as he recounts not only that glorious day in Sydney,
but also the anguish of failing to repeat as Olympic champion in
Athens in 2004, and his dramatic comeback at the 2008 Beijing
Games, when his exhilarating race to a silver medal enthralled
millions of fans around the world. Simon’s stories of the highs and
lows of his running career will captivate readers young and old,
but his real message—that the simple pursuit of excellence is its
own reward—will also inspire and motivate. Not everyone can
be an Olympian. Simon believes that true greatness is in perform-
ing to the best of one’s ability. The reward is in the effort, not the
outcome.
Simon Says Gold includes Simon Whitfield’s instructions on
training—his advice is bound to surprise young athletes in any
sport—and includes stories about family, friends, coaches,
teachers and mentors—all those who have had a lasting impact
on his life and helped make him a champion. Simon lives in
