Triathletes name Ertel, Kemper as captains

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Hunter Kemper and Julie Swail-Ertel have five Olympic Games between them -- reason enough, their teammates figured, to elect the pair as captains of the U.S. Olympic triathlon team.

The vote was unanimous, according to USA Triathlon.

Kemper will lead the men’s team, Ertel is the women’s team leader and will double as overall team captain.

‘Both are Olympians from previous Games and natural leaders so that makes sense,’ said Scott Schnitzspahn, USA Triathlon’s sport performance director.

Kemper is competing in his third Olympic Games. Ertel is competing in her second -- she won a silver medal in water polo competition at the 2000 Sydney Games.

The team will be in Beijing for Friday’s opening ceremony and then travel to Korea for a week of training. The triathletes will return to Beijing on Aug. 15. The women compete on Aug. 18, the men on Aug. 19.

-- Greg Johnson