Kiriyo Suzuki - Michel Gignoux award

Japan’s Kiriyo Suzuki was introduced to triathlon back in that momentous year of 1989, just as the sport’s governing body was formed. Numerous races and impressive results later, Kiriyo turned to officiating, seeing it as a logical path to giving back to the sport that had given her so much joy.
Having first officiated at the 1998 Ishigaki World Cup, Kiriyo has been a central part of the Technical Official programme since the sport’s Olympic debut at Sydney 2000.
At that historic event she served as the Assistant Swim Official, a position she also held four years later at Athens 2004. Since that time, Kiriyo-san’s roles have been varied, vital and always with a smile, all reasons why she is one of only two women to have been a part of every Olympic triathlon event on the IF or LOC side to date - most recently at her home Games of Tokyo 2020 - and is now being recognised in the World Triathlon Hall of Fame.
As a member of the Japanese Triathlon Union Executive Board, Kiriyo has continued to serve her sport with the kind of dedication and passion that marks out those for whom this is more than swim-bike-run - it is a way of life.

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Outstanding