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Lynn Van Dove with Soviet soldiers at the site of the Zelenogorsk triathlon, 1990.
Race entry list.
Two Ironman Canada finishers competing in Zelenogorsk. The woman is Carol Truelove. I can't remember the man's name.
Transition area entertainment provided by a local band.
Race catering, Soviet style.
Race secretary and communications officer. The Steve King of Zelenogorsk? You can also see the trophies here.
Triathlon souvenirs for sale.
The swim start.
Waiting for the swim start.
Swim start.
Bike lot.
Bike-to-run transition in Zelenogorsk.
Spectators applauding finishers.
Soldiers, or possibly police, smoke during the race.
A child plays in the race area.
Heading home at the end of the race.
Me and my Soviet hosts at the end of the most fascinating trip of my life
Lynne Van Dove with the mayor of Zelenogorsk, USSR
Soviet race official, Zelenogorsk.
SHY GIANTS is a web site devoted to the lost women of Ironman: the women whose efforts in founding the sport of triathlon, and the phenomenon of Ironman ultra-distance triathlons, have too often been overlooked. The site was conceived and designed by Lynn Van Dove.
The site will consists of several episodes telling the story of Ironman's "Aloha Years", between 1978 and 1990, when Ironman was “more than just a race”. The site will tell the story from Hawaii to Canada to Japan and beyond, but with particular focus on Ironman Canada. Each episode will feature video, photos, text and documents. The aim is to create a record of the organizational and inspirational contributions of a number of key women in the creation and development of ultra-distance triathlon.
The lost women of Ironman infused their races with creative resourcefulness, meticulous attention to detail and tireless concern and respect for every athlete. These women were shy giants but giants nonetheless.