Mislawchuk finish falls short

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This article was published 26/07/2021 (1555 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OAK BLUFF — There would be no storybook ending this time.

Tyler Mislawchuk’s bold dash for the biggest prize in his sport held so much promise at the start line Sunday in Tokyo and looked even more tantalizing at the outset of the running leg of the Olympic men’s triathlon race.

Positioned comfortably in a lead group of 10 runners, Mislawchuk, ranked fifth in the world, was poised to strike.

But a breakaway group including eventual Olympic champion Kristian Blumenfelt of Norway took command and this time Mislawchuk was unable to answer the challenge.

Blummenfelt crossed the finish line in 1:45.04. Mislawchuk was 84 seconds back in 15th place, matching his finish at the 2016 Rio Games.

“It’s a race, right?” said Tyler’s father Fred as the 20 family members and friends assembled in their Oak Bluff backyard quietly feasted on treats put out for a potential victory party. “Something went wrong or something went right for the big guys.”

Tyler’s mom Eleanor was puzzled. She had watched him win the prestigious Tokyo test event on the same course two summers earlier and knew he was an exceptionally strong runner.

“I didn’t think he looked that tired crossing the finish line — he didn’t fall down, he just walked across the finish line, so I’d be interesting to talk to him to hear whether he had cramping,” said Eleanor. “There’s so many variables. Could it have been the water? Did he drink a bit of the water and get cramping?…

“Heat doesn’t usually bother Tyler, so I don’t think (it was that). Did he have some discomfort that he picked up during the race or something that affected his ability to run?”

News reports later confirmed Eleanor’s suspicions: Mislawchuk told reporters cramping was a factor.

Fred, a longtime camera operator for TSN, is a seasoned veteran at big-time sport events having worked at five Olympic Games, multiple golf and tennis majors and numerous other high-profile events.

But watching his son compete turns him into a nervous wreck. Fred and Eleanor watched Tyler compete in Rio but the pandemic denied any plans they may have had to travel to Japan.

Watching his race on TV, his parents couldn’t help but theorize an entire season away from competition may have also been a factor in Sunday’s result.

“The other athletes raced in 2020 — because of insurance Canadian athletes didn’t,” said Eleanor. “So it’s a lot of pressure put on to this one big race, right? He was ready. His coach was confident he would be on the podium. There was some variable that must have affected him.”

Losing a race, even of this magnitude, is small potatoes when compared to some of the physical trauma the Mislawchuks have seen their son endure during his career.

In 2013, racing in his first World Cup event in Edmonton, a freak accident not of his own making caused Tyler to crash his bike.

The result? A trip to the hospital with broken ribs and a painful leg contusion.

At his second World Cup race in New Zealand, the Mislawchuks were monitoring Tyler’s race on a live ticker (no livestream was available) when his number suddenly disappeared from the update.

Four hours later, they learned he had been carted to hospital after another accident. In this case, a rider ahead of him had fallen and Tyler hit the pavement only to have a trailing competitor ride over his head. The damage included a broken jaw, teeth and ribs.

At the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games, there was more mayhem when Tyler broke ribs again in another crash but got back on his bike and went on to finish 10th.

“That was kind of a rough setback and when Tyler talks to kids and he talks about perseverance he says that’s it because it would’ve been so easy to just give up,” said Eleanor.

Mislawchuk’s supporters, including grandmother Josephine Leddy, had been hoping for a podium finish but they are expecting no letup from their hometown ace.

They can take some comfort in the knowledge the Paris Summer Olympics are only three years away.

“I’m sure it’s gonna be down for a few days, you know, wishing things were different but he’ll bounce right back and be back racing,” said Eleanor. “There’s still a long season ahead.”

The events of the day took a toll on Fred, a bundle of nerves in the week leading up to the race.

“I’m hoping he comes home and says, ‘It’s all good, let’s get on with it and take it from there,’” said Fred, his voice wracked with emotion. “It’s all about Tyler, not us, but you know I’m sure he’s gonna be crushed. But we’ll see when he gets home.”

Mislawchuk isn’t done yet in Tokyo. He’s expected to join three Canadian teammates in Saturday’s mixed relay race.

 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14