Courtesy: USAT

The USA Triathlon Board of Directors has announced that it will support Dr. Sarah Springman, honorary president of the British Triathlon Association, in her bid to become president of the International Triathlon Union (ITU).

Springman, who served as ITU vice president from 1992-96, is running against current president Les McDonald, who has served in that role since 1989. During McDonald's term, triathlon was put on the Olympic program and has been contested in two Summer Games.

"USA Triathlon's Board of Directors appreciates all the leadership that Les McDonald has given triathlon and multi-sport around the world during his ITU presidency," said Board President Brad Davison.

"However, we feel it is time for a change in leadership and support Dr. Springman's ideas and vision for moving the ITU in a new direction."

Springman was a leading elite triathlete for several years and was the European Triathlon Champion in 1988 and European Long Distance Champion in 1985-86. She also took part in five Hawaii Ironman competitions and won 11 British Triathlon Championships between 1984 and 1992.

Springman was a member of the Great Britain and United Kingdom sports councils from 1993-2001 and governor of the International Masters Games Association from 1992-2002. A graduate of Girton College in Cambridge, England, Springman is currently professor of geotechnical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

The election for the ITU presidency will take place during the ITU Congress on Dec. 4 in Vancouver, Canada.