Dave Scott and Karen Smyers announced as USA team captains for the Collins Cup

The Professional Triathletes Organisation today announced the appointment of Dave Scott, 6 x IRONMAN World Champion, and Karen Smyers, Olympic Distance World Champion and IRONMAN World Champion, as USA Team Captains for The Collins Cup.

The Collins Cup is a first of its kind global competition in which teams of professional triathletes from the USA, Europe and the rest of the World (the “Internationals”) will compete to determine which region dominates the sport of triathlon.

Modelled after golf’s Ryder Cup, The Collins Cup will be a long-distance team competition among USA, Europe and the Internationals. Each team will consist of 12 professional triathletes, six men and six women. (Click here to see The Collins Cup – How It Works.)

Dave Scott commented, “It is an honour to be selected as one of the USA Team captains for the inaugural Collins Cup and Karen and I look forward to helping guide the USA Team. We’ll ensure our team is well prepared for the battle.”

As part of the USA Team, Scott and Smyers will be working with Brett Favre, former Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback. Smyers commented, “As triathlon is normally an individual sport, Dave and I thought it would be helpful to get some guidance on team dynamics and as a truly legendary leader in his sport, it will be a privilege to have Brett as a resource.”

Over the next 12 months, Scott and Smyers will be looking to add additional support members to the USA Team as well as be in contact with the athletes and their coaches as the places on the USA Team begin to solidify.

Scott commented, “Look, it is very simple: The USA created this sport and the first Collins Cup will be in US waters and on US soil. We will make sure that the USA Team is fully prepared. We know that some people think that Europe may be the strongest team, but as many have learned in the past, you underestimate the power of the stars and stripes at your peril.”

For more information, head to thecollinscup.com

Liz Barrett 220 Deputy Editor

About

220 deputy editor Liz Barrett started work on the magazine in 2007 as staff writer. Since then, she’s reported live from almost every major triathlon across the globe, including the Ironman World Championships, 70.3 Worlds, six ITU Worlds, Challenge Roth, the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealths, the London Olympics and the Rio Paralympics, to name but a few. Name a pro and chances are she’ll have interviewed them, so, unsurprisingly, she’s our go-to pro-athlete expert on the team. When not covering races, you’ll find her whipping words into finely-crafted shape for both the magazine and website.