VANCOUVER — After competing in four Olympics, including winning triathlon gold in 2000, silver in 2008 and crashing out of the London 2012 race in spectacular fashion, Simon Whitfield is stepping away from the national team.

Whitfield, who had been hinting ever since crashing early in the bike leg in London that he was done with the Olympic distance, sent out a tweet Friday morning confirming that he would be switching his focus to long course racing.

“Been on @triathloncanada National Team since 1995, declined today, had a hard time sending email. Looking forward to Long Course racing,” he said on his Twitter account.

He is currently holidaying with his wife and two young daughters and has told Triathlon Canada officials he won’t comment further until next week.

The Kingston, Ont., native and long-time Victoria resident won gold in Sydney in 2000 when triathlon made its Olympic debut. The Olympic distance features a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre bike leg and a 10-kilometre run.

Long course is races between the Olympic distance and the gruelling Ironman and usually means distances of 1.9 kilometres for the swim, 90 kilometres on the bike and a 21.1-kilometre run.

Whitfield, whose surprise silver in 2008 came when many had counted him out of medal contention, has won 12 national triathlon championships, 14 World Cup races and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in addition to his two Olympic medals.

His last World Cup win came in 2009 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Alan Trivett, Triathlon Canada’s executive director, left the door open for Whitfield to try return to the national team at some point, saying “from our perspective, he is welcome back any time.”

Whitfield, however, would be 41 by the time the next Olympics rolls around.

“I wouldn’t want to write him off,” insisted Trivett. “Notwithstanding his spectacular crash, he was headed for another great performance in London. I don’t know if he would have been on the podium, but he’d done all the work to still be there at age 37 and it was shame he was not able to fulfill the fitness he had.”

Trivett called Whitfield an “incredible asset” who played a huge role in ensuring Canada had a significant role in the sport’s international development.

He said the organization will look for opportunities to engage Whitfield in marketing and sponsorship deals and to tap into his extensive knowledge.

“He’s probably forgotten half of what everybody else knows about triathlon. He’s an amazing resource. He has a special gift for the sport and understands exactly what is required.”

gkingston@vancouversun.com

vancouversun.com