American Barb Lindquist goes into the women's elite race as the undisputed No 1 after her best year on the tough International Triathlon Union circuit.
The 34-year-old from Wyoming has been racing as an elite triathlete since 1996 after first representing her country as a swimmer for four years from 1987.
She swam for the United States at the Pan American Games.
A graduate from Stanford University with a BA in human biology, Lindquist won in Edmonton and Ishigaki, Japan, this year.
She was second in last year's world championships in Cancun after finishing fourth in the 2000 championships in Perth.
Victory in her last race of the season would cap a strong year for Lindquist and her 14 listed sponsors.
Asked who she rated as her sporting hero, she did not hesitate.
"Jim Ward - the first man over 80 years of age to finish the Hawaii Ironman."
Lindquist, who says she has got through her year injury-free, heads a strong US challenge for the elite race.
The two Americans seeded behind her are Sheila Taormina and Laura Reback - who fill the same positions on the world rankings.
Athletics: Barb Lindquist gets her inspiration from 80-year-old athlete
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