BEIJING — Sometimes just getting to the Olympics is a supreme accomplishment, an endurance event of the mind.
Hunter Kemper of Colorado Springs finished seventh and was the top American in the men’s triathlon today, but the trials he endured over the past year made that achievement something to savor.
For the past year-and-a-half, he battled sacroiliac problems that prevented him from racing, interfered with his training and threatened his career. This year, he also had a hernia.
With temperatures in the 80s and humidity of 79 percent, Kemper finished 55 seconds behind Jan Frodeno of Germany, who outsprinted Canada’s Simon Whitfield over the final 100 meters to win the gold medal by a 5-second margin. Whitfield was the 2000 Olympic champion in Sydney.
Frodeno finished in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 53 seconds.
“This was the race of my life,” Frodeno said. “I had the tunnel vision that I’ve always wished for.”
Bevan Docherty of New Zealand took the bronze medal, 12 seconds back.
Kemper has competed in all three Olympic men’s triathlons, finishing 17th in Sydney and ninth in Athens. He was the top-ranked triathlete in the world in 2005.
“I did all I could today,” Kemper said. “It was really warm today, and I tried my best. That’s all I had.”
Kemper didn’t make the Olympic team until June 25, when he defeated fellow Colorado Springs resident Andy Potts for the third and final spot on the U.S. team.
“It’s hard to come to the start line when you’re not healthy,” Kemper said. “My expectations today were to enjoy myself and have a smile on my face when I did.”
The triathlon unfolded beside a picturesque lake ringed by mountains an hour’s drive from the main Olympic area.
Jarrod Shoemaker of Maynard, Mass., finished 18th, and Matty Reed of Boulder was 32nd.
“Definitely disappointed,” Reed said. “I can’t explain why I felt so bad out there today.”
Reed, recently naturalized as a U.S. citizen, beat his brother, Shane, by two places and 17.32 seconds. Shane Reed races for their native New Zealand.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
