James BUTTERFIELD

Jim Butterfield’s sporting career has been long and varied and has taken in high level competition at three different sports. At the 1972 Games he became the first and, as of 2010, only Bermudan rower to compete at Olympic level but soon switched to distance running and was chosen to run the marathon for his country at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada where he was 17th behind Gidamis Shahanga. Switching sports for a second time he became a pioneer of triathlon in Bermuda, placing 7th in the Hawaii Ironman event in 1981 and has continued his involvement in the sport as a competitor, coach and event organizer. He has a strong family connection to the world of sport as his wife, son, daughter-in-law and niece have all competed on the international scene. His wife, Debbie, was a 2:38 marathon runner who placed 4th in the 1985 Boston Marathon, his son Tyler Butterfield has been both an Olympic triathlete and a Commonwealth Games cyclist, his daughter-in-law Nikki Egyed is a professional cyclist who rode for Australia in the World Championship road race and his niece Ashley Couper-Estwanik reached the final of the 1500 m at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.