BEIJING UPDATE: Kemper, Ertel Named Captains of Olympic Triathlon Team

With five Olympic Games appearances between them, the choice to select Hunter Kemper (Longwood, Fla. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Julie Swail Ertel as the captains of the U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team (Irvine, Calif. / Placentia, Calif.) was obvious.

Their fellow team members unanimously agreed that Kemper should lead the men's team and Ertel should head the women's team. In addition, Ertel was voted the overall team captain and provided the team's official vote for the U.S. Team flagbearer on Wednesday.

"Both are Olympians from previous Games and natural leaders so that makes sense," said Team Leader Scott Schnitzspahn.

Kemper is competing in his third Olympic Games, while Ertel is in her second, after earning a silver medal in water polo at the 2000 Games in Sydney.

The team will be in Beijing for Friday's Opening Ceremonies before departing for a week of training in Korea. They will return to Beijing on August 15 and compete on August 18 (women) and August 19 (men).

Find out more about the team.

Beijing Media Contact:

Jason Mucher

Beijing Cell: 13910684484