Ten years ago, local C3 residents started the first-ever Caledon Kids of Steel Triathlon. “We started that first event to recognize Simon Whitfield’s amazing gold-medal victory at the Sydney Olympics” said Olympic coach Barrie Shepley. “Simon got started in Kids of Steel when he was growing up in Kingston, Ontario and many wonderful local volunteers helped start that very first race to honour him.”

 “We had over 600 kids in that very first year and it has been an incredible success since day one” said race director Stewart Barclay. Barclay and many local residents have helped make the local pool triathlon the biggest in the country on a yearly basis.

Kids as young as three and four  are able to participate with the aid of a life-jacket in the pool. They also complete 300m on their tricycles and a 200m jog to the finishing line.

“We have been blessed to have Kinetico as our title sponsor each year and that has helped make sure the event has a community-family feeling,” said Barclay. The 10th Anniversary C3 Kinetico Kids of Steel Triathlon will take place on Sunday, May 30 at the Caledon Public School on Kennedy Road. The day will start off with the adult races (400m swim -15km bike - 5km run) in the morning and then move down to the teenage categories prior to lunch. The event will have a lunch hour break where a community 5km run/walk will take place. Right after lunch the 3-6 year old age mini-triathlon will take place (where parents can assist their children).

The afternoon will be for the pre-teen 7-12 year old kids. Event organizers are expecting nearly 1,000 children and will have many free-give-aways and the chance to meet some top international athletes. To register your family for the triathlons or 5km run, or to volunteer for the day, go to the C3 website at www.c3online.ca.