ATHENS -- When Geoff Whitfield went for a dip in the ocean recently, it wasn't to cool off from the searing heat.

Rather, it was to spread around some "good vibes" for his Olympic champion son, Simon, who competes tomorrow in the men's triathalon.

"His dad's been in the water and had a special swim and we've walked the course -- or at least part of it," said Linda Whitfield last night from Canada House, a family meeting place in the historic Plaka district.

"He was passing out good vibes into the water and he touched one of the buoys," she said with a chuckle, referring to one of the floating markers that set the course for the 1.5-km open-water swim in the famous beach of Oceanida in the municipality of Vouliagme, about 45 kms south of the Olympic Village.

"We'll be out there rooting for the women (today)," vows Linda, who lives in Kingston, Ont.

Linda, who has run a half marathon, says she is very sad for Perdita Felicien, who fell last night in the 100m hurdles, adding the two hours it takes for a triathalon to run its course means one misstep like Felicien's is not as crucial.

Besides the swim, there are a 40-km bike race and 10-km run.

"Nevertheless," says Linda, "we as parents are all relieved when they get off the bikes. That's when we all breathe a sigh of relief because so much can go wrong, other riders can create danger or a blown out tire can. That's what I worry about most," she admits.

Despite a recent severe bout of food poisoning and some allergic reactions, Linda says her son, who won gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, is ready and healthy.

"The important thing for us as parents," says Linda, "is that he's going to be Simon when this race is finished. And that's so wonderful."

As for the ocean, Geoff is hoping, unlike his son, it will have changed for the better.