Melanie McQuaid

Melanie McQuaid
Personal information
Nickname(s) Racer Girl
Born May 17, 1973[1]
Victoria, British Columbia[1]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight 62 kg (137 lb)[2]
Sport
Country Canada
Sport Triathlon
Coached by Adam Zucco

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. McQuaid also races in half-iron distance triathlon events, claiming wins in Ironman 70.3 series events.

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.[3][4] She next pursued a professional career in road cycling and mountain biking after being offered many opportunities in cycling as a beginning woman cyclist.[4][5] She raced her first World Cup race in 1998,[6] 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.[7] She found that these events suited her perfectly because of her athletic background and strengths.[6]

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.[8][9] In 2006 and 2008 she won the Offroad Triathlete of the Year award at the Competitor Magazine Endurance Sport Awards.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Melanie McQuaid Bio". XTERRA Planet. 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Biography". racergirl.com. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "McQuaid, Stoltz Highlight Xterra East Championships". Triathlete.com. June 8, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Johnson, Ron. "An interview with Melanie McQuaid, Canada's reigning XTERRA Champ". GetOutThereMag.com. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ Krabel, Herbert (June 12, 2010). "The amazing Melanie McQuaid". Slowtwitch.com. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bourquin, Tim (January 28, 2005). "EnduranceRadio.com Interview with Melanie McQuaid". runnersweb.com. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Richmond a June Tradition for XTERRA, Melanie McQuaid". Endurance Sports Wire. June 8, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Triathlon Canada Announces its 2006 Award Winners". Triathlon Canada. May 22, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Triathlon Canada Doles Out Annual Hardware to 2011 Winners". Triathlon Canada. June 19, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2013.

External links