Spencer Smith

SlowTwitch Special Interview, 10/8/99

I first met Spencer Smith and his father Bill in Ixtapa, 1994. My wife JulieAnne was racing the Mexican Triathlon Series that year and I was along as Equipment Wrangler and hotel checker-inner/outer.

We all immediately hit it off. Bill bragged that Spencer was put up by the race organizer, but that they had to buy their own flights. I, the experienced Mex traveler, bragged that we got a better "all-inclusive" deal from our travel agent. Bill couldn't believe that I could have as many margaritas as I wanted, no extra charge. In fact we bet on it (the first of many wagers). The next day Bill came ambling up the beach in a garb of many and bright colors (a Bill Smith trademark) to see just whether I was a "bloody bullshitter" or not. I demonstrated the margarita trick--one for myself, a couple for Bill (or the other way around)-- which convinced the elder Smith that here was a man who could come through with the goods. Fast friends after that.

Most of the sport knows about Bill Smith's death last year of a brain tumor, and no person in this sport is more missed than he. Spencer has carried on, and lately has had to battle on a second front, which SlowTwitch describes here, with an accompanying commentary here.

Spencer will not be racing Ironman this year, although Hawaii was the focus of his season. SlowTwitch spoke to Spencer shortly after he made his decision not to race...

SlowTwitch: What was the interval between the time when Lew Friedland [president of World Triathlon Corporation, owners of the Ironman] told you that you were not welcome at Ironman, until the time he reversed his decision?

Smith: I spoke to Lew directly, one or two days after Chicago [Mrs. T's Triathlon, held Aug. 29]. He told me that he would personally really like to see me race, and to extend me an invitation, but that he unfortunately could not. He told me that he would have to wait until the ITU appeal was held, but that he would abide by the ruling of that panel, meaning if they gave me no penalty, I would be free to race Ironman. After the panel decided that there was no suspension to be given, that there was, in their words, "No case to answer," I fully expected the offer to stand. Unfortunately, I was then told that I was still not in, that Ironman had not yet made up their mind, which meant I was out of the race until they said I was in. It was right around Wednesday, the 29th of September, I believe, that they finally said I was free to race.

SlowTwitch: What was it like training through that period?

Smith: It is very difficult to go out and do those miles with this hanging over your head. It has been a rough couple of years, what with my dad, and now this. I set a deadline for myself, where if the Ironman didn't come back with the answer I was looking for, I would just not be able to go on and do the race. Their answer just came too late.

SlowTwitch: How big was the Ironman to you this year?

Smith: The Ironman WAS my season, really. To me Ironman is the World Championship. I'd rather be the Ironman World Champ than the short course World Champ. It's an honest race. None of this sixty-five guys coming off the bike at once. Even if Zack or Hellriegel come off the bike together, you know they've hammered for 112 miles. They've done a real bike ride.

SlowTwitch: So how do you now feel about the Ironman, after all that's happened?

Smith: I don't like the politics of the sport, that's bullshit. But I love the idea of the Ironman. I love that the age-groupers start with the pros, can race the same course, same rules. An age-grouper looks at the results and says, "How can he ride that much faster than me?" The Ironman is a real triathlon, a real test. I love that race.

SlowTwitch: Your answers to my questions have drifted over to the short course arena. I sense you have something to say about that process.

Smith: I was disappointed they decided not to extend a wild card to me. It was the practice in the past to automatically invite past World Champions [Smith has won Junior Worlds once, and Men's Worlds twice]. But they decided not to do that anymore. I would have liked to race Worlds, but honestly I don't like what they've done to the event. I REALLY love the bike! I love the way it feels to hammer out there. But nowadays, the swim is a non-event, and the bike is a non-event. They've got to do something. Look for more challenging courses maybe, if they want to do laps, have six walls, or ten hills, during the 40K. The way it is now, all these guys just wait for the run.

Which I don't understand. Simon [Lessing] is a very fast runner, faster than me. What do these guys think, just sitting in the pack on the bike? That somehow this is going to be their lucky day, running against Simon? You'd think these cyclists'd try a strategy, they'd go off, one after another, make the runners chase them down. But it's boring, waltzing through the first two events just to get to the run.

SlowTwitch: Obviously the rules don't suit you.

Smith: I don't like messing with the sport just to make it more appealing to TV and spectators. Is it more exciting to watch now? Yes, we're in the Olympics, and I applaud the ITU for that. But at what cost? How can they say on their website, "It doesn't get any better than this."?

SlowTwitch: How've you been treated inside your camp during this whole process? By your sponsors?

Smith: Everyone has stood behind me 100 percent. MetRx, Saucony, Specialized, everyone. And yes, I've won two rounds in court. But really, "There is no case to answer," isn't good enough for me. I'm fucking innocent, and that's what I want to hear!

SlowTwitch: So what's in your future now, sportswise?

Smith: I've got to regroup. Right at the moment, I've lost my love for the sport. I'm somewhat jaded, to tell you honestly. I'm not thinking about my future. The love that I have for triathlon has been taken away. That's a horrible thing to say. But all this, plus the changes in short course rules, I don't know...