As Bermudians, we take immense pride in our island’s athletes, and one name that’s been making waves in the world of sports is Tyler Smith. The 25-year-old world triathlete is headed to the Pan American Games 2023 and potentially – reach a defining moment. While the PanAm Games hold great importance in his athletic career, they are not the sole determinant of his Olympic dream.
Tyler Smith’s remarkable journey in the world of triathlon is one of consistency and genuine love for the sport. Tyler has managed to rise to prominence on the global stage through his unwavering dedication.
“There’s an Olympic Rankings and there’s a World Rankings,” says Tyler, “and World Rankings takes into consideration almost every event that the world triathlon puts on.” Which Tyler competes in for the majority of his career.
The Pan Ams could help Tyler for an Olympic qualification, but it doesn’t have any World Ranking points, so it also may not be beneficial. As Tyler says – “it depends”.
Tyler’s passion for triathlon has taken him to five continents, where he has faced some of the world’s best athletes. His impressive world rankings stand as a testament to his hard work and determination.
Tyler’s dedication to his sport is further highlighted by his decision to compete the weekend before and after the PanAm Games. He’ll be in Brazil the week before to accumulate more world ranking points and then he will be competing 10 days after the Pan Ams on the same Pan Am course. The Timing is difficult, but this additional race demonstrates his commitment to staying in peak condition, maintaining a competitive edge on the world stage and accumulating points for his World Ranking.
In our interview, Tyler Smith shares the significant influence of Bermudian Dame Flora Duffy winning -what was undoubtedly – an unforgettable gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Flora’s triumph inspired Tyler to reach for greater heights. As he says, “it gave me pride that I belong here.”
NOTE: This interview was recorded before the recent announcement from WADA on Bermuda’s status. Which is as of October 13, Bermuda is on a compliance ‘watchlist’ from WADA.
