Karen Smyers

A triathlete since 1985, Karen Smyers came into her own in 1990. After winning races in Ohio and Massachusetts, she beat a field of America's best women triathletes and qualified for the U.S. team. Racing at the Worlds in September, Smyers shocked everyone, winning with a come-from-behind run. Though she has developed into a strong cyclist, Smyers came from a swimming and running background. At Princeton University, she competed on both the track and swimming teams, a "double major" that gave her a good perspective on the difficulties that bedevil novice swimmers.

"One of the most important things is to get some coaching, and the best way to do that is to join an organized group. Technique is important in swimming, and it's a hard thing to pick up yourself. Joining an organized group also makes you swim harder. If you get in the water by yourself, you tend to just put in the distance, and you don't push as hard. It's also a lot more fun with a group."

Source: McAlpine, Ken. Runner's World, June 1991, p. 46.