Patty Petty: ‘Long Journey, Loved Every Minute’
[Written by Stephen Wright]
For more than 40 years, Patty Petty has played an integral role in serving local triathlon, helping the island’s elite athletes in any way possible, and representing Bermuda as a technical official on the world stage.
Next summer Petty, one of the founding members of the Bermuda Triathlon Association [BTA] in 1981, will travel to Paris for the Olympic Games and Paralympics as a technical official for World Triathlon.
It will be the first time 50 per cent of the elected technical officials at both competitions will be female.
Having attended three Olympics as an official for the sport’s international governing body [Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016] and once as a Bermuda team manager [Athens 2004], Petty has witnessed first-hand the evolution of the sport at the highest level.
“I have become part of the World Triathlon family,” Petty told Bernews. “It’s been like that for many years now.
“Triathlon is still a new sport in many ways, and, although I’m biased, I think it showcases itself so well at the Olympics. The organisers know how to deliver a show.
“I’m thrilled to get the para-triathlon events because they are so fulfilling and rewarding. The para-athletes are amazing and inspiring.”
Had it not been for Tyler Butterfield and Flora Duffy, the island’s most decorated triathletes, Petty might never have become involved as an international technical official.
Petty had become a familiar face within the sport’s governing body, travelling with Butterfield as the Bermuda team manager for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and the Olympics in Athens in 2004.
She was then asked to be an official at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006, where she says her journey as the island’s top triathlon technical official began.
“When Tyler started competing on the world circuit, I started travelling to events just to get a feel for what was going on for the athletes,” said Petty, who has officiated at more than 20 World Championships.
“I wanted to ensure Tyler and, later on, Flora Duffy had all the necessary information. That was my main objective.
“I think [World Triathlon] saw I was always attending these events and got me involved. It’s been a long journey, and I’ve loved every minute.”
Although Petty, whose husband Steven is a former BTA president, has no plans to retire, she has partly switched her attention to helping increase the number of qualified technical officials on the island.
Among them is Ian Pilgrim, who will be among the technical officials at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in October and November and served as race director for the Carifta Triathlon, Aquathlon and Mixed Team Relay Championships, held in Bermuda for the first time in September last year.
“With World Triathlon, there are certain stipulations,” Petty said. “You need a Level 2 or 3 to officiate at the Olympics. I’m the only Level 2 person at the moment, so my name gets put forward,” said Petty, who received the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour for her services to triathlon.
When asked for the highlight of her 40 years involved in the sport, Petty does not hesitate.
“I couldn’t go to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 because of all the Covid-19 complications, but Flora winning the gold medal on my birthday is undoubtedly my highlight!” she added.
“I’m proud to go anywhere in the world, knowing we have a gold medal winner from our small island.”
