Simon Whitfield has twice shown his fast feet have some rhythm as he danced across Edmonton's finish line well ahead of the pack. He'll go for the hat trick tomorrow when the International Triathlon Union's World Cup returns to Hawrelak Park, but this time, the race is not merely about points and world rankings for Whitfield. Canada's golden boy from the 2000 Summer Games is tuning himself up for the challenge of defending his Olympic crown in less than a month on the hot and hilly course in Athens.

Four years ago, a virtually unknown Whitfield ran down the field in Australia to claim the gold. He's now the hunted prey with a bull's-eye on his back, yet there's no sign of worry in his eyes or in his voice.

"I don't mean this the wrong way, but I'm a 10-times better athlete than I was in Sydney," said Whitfield yesterday. "Unfortunately, the field is also 10 times better. We're doing everything right right now and really enjoying it.

"I don't really see the pressure right now. I'm sure it'll come. I get a lot of comments like, 'Go defend one for Canada' which is fantastic, and I'll take that energy with me to Athens."

NOT ABOUT TO GO FOR A LEISURELY STROLL

Those eyeing a shot at knocking Whitfield off his perch - at least as two-time defending champion at this race - be forewarned. Whitfield isn't about to go for a leisurely stroll along one of his favourite courses.

"I'm going to go as hard as I can,'' he said. "It's a chance to race and you get fitness and experience from racing. Maybe you make a statement, too. I don't know.

"In Toronto in 2001, I went out and had probably the best race I've ever had. I came to the world championships two weeks later and everyone just gave it to me. Maybe I'll play a little cat and mouse, but I really want to see where I'm at fitness-wise.

"It's hard not to look past this. I thought that on Monday, started thinking I'm looking past Edmonton, but then all of a sudden you get here. I'm competitive and I want to race."

Whitfield is preparing to be in tip-top shape when the gun sounds to start the field in Athens. He is currently ranked 15th in the world only because of his light schedule.

"I'm a lazy traveller," said Whitfield, who will skip a race in Minnesota, where he earned $50,000 last year, just to keep on his pre-Olympic "template."

His shot at a second straight gold is likely to be one of the few medal hopes that Canada has. The team headed to Greece is considered one of the weakest to ever attend a Summer Olympics, and Whitfield will be carrying much, if not all, of the medal burden on his shoulders.

"We do have some gold-medal hopes," offered Whitfield of his Maple Leaf teammates. "I think Alex (Despatie) in diving will hopefully be a gold-medal threat. There will be lots of Canadians who step up, I hope. It would be neat to be the first Canadian to repeat at the Summer Olympics so that's an exciting opportunity."

LOFTY QUALIFYING STANDARDS

As the front-and-centre man on the Olympic team and most certainly the flag-bearer for the Opening Ceremonies, Whitfield was tossed the political hand grenade. That's the controversial lofty qualifying standards for the Games under the joint IOC and Canadian Olympic Committee guidelines.

Whitfield juggled the issue well.

"I understand that they're trying to set a standard because people will rise to the occasion but I think you have to fund people to do that," he said. "You can't just say to someone with four athletes living in one house and working part-time jobs, 'OK, you now have to be the best Canadian history, break a Canadian record, to go to the Games.'

"It eliminates so many people. Some will rise to the occasion but you take away what sports is about - which is sending ambassadors out.''

On a much lighter note, Whitfield admitted that his Sydney gold isn't exactly prominently displayed in Victoria home.

"It's a little shoebox behind a picture," he said with a laugh. "It's been touched by probably 10,000 kids. It's got some new teeth marks in it, it's got a couple of dents in it. My Commonwealth Games gold medal is scratching it right now in the same box."