Melanie McQuaid
McQuaid at Ironman 70.3 Shepparton, November 2013
Personal information
NicknameRacer Girl
Born (1973-05-17) May 17, 1973 (age 50)[1]
Victoria, British Columbia[1]
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight62 kg (137 lb)[2]
Sport
CountryCanada
SportTriathlon
Coached byKelly Guest/Self-coached
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Women's triathlon
XTERRA Triathlon World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2006 Overall
Gold medal – first place 2005 Overall
Gold medal – first place 2003 Overall
Silver medal – second place 2007 Overall
Silver medal – second place 2004 Overall
Silver medal – second place 2000 Overall
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Overall
ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Overall
Gold medal – first place 2011 Overall
Silver medal – second place 2012 Overall

Melanie McQuaid (born May 17, 1973) is a Canadian triathlete. Competing in primarily XTERRA Triathlon, or cross triathlon, she has won three XTERRA World Championships as well as the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship in 2011 and 2017.[3] McQuaid also races in half-iron and Ironman 70.3 triathlon events, with half a dozen wins at this distance.

Career

McQuaid was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. She competed in swimming while in high school and ran while attending the University of Victoria, earning her degree in biochemistry and chemistry.[4][5] She next pursued a professional career in road cycling and mountain biking after being offered many opportunities in cycling as a beginning woman cyclist.[5][6] She raced her first World Cup race in 1998,[7] but after not making the Canadian mountain bike team for the 2000 Olympics, and growing tired of the repetitiveness of the single sport, McQuaid began competing in XTERRA triathlon.[8] She found that these events suited her perfectly because of her athletic background and strengths.[7]

The success McQuaid has found in XTERRA and cross triathlon has translated into more than 40 wins since 2001.[2] She has been named Triathlete Magazine's Offroad Triathlete of the Year for 2005 and 2009. She was Triathlon Canada's Female Offroad Triathlete of the Year four times.[9][10] In 2006 and 2008 she won the Offroad Triathlete of the Year award at the Competitor Magazine Endurance Sport Awards.

References

  1. ^ a b "Melanie McQuaid Bio". XTERRA Planet. 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography". racergirl.com. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Canada's Melanie McQuaid wins cross triathlon world championships on home soil". Triathlon Magazine Canada. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  4. ^ "McQuaid, Stoltz Highlight Xterra East Championships". Triathlete.com. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Ron. "An interview with Melanie McQuaid, Canada's reigning XTERRA Champ". GetOutThereMag.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  6. ^ Krabel, Herbert (12 June 2010). "The amazing Melanie McQuaid". Slowtwitch.com. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  7. ^ a b Bourquin, Tim (28 January 2005). "EnduranceRadio.com Interview with Melanie McQuaid". runnersweb.com. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Richmond a June Tradition for XTERRA, Melanie McQuaid". Endurance Sports Wire. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Triathlon Canada Announces its 2006 Award Winners". Triathlon Canada. 22 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Triathlon Canada Doles Out Annual Hardware to 2011 Winners". Triathlon Canada. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.

External links

World Champions in women's Xterra Triathlon
Categories