champions. The competition includes world junior, under-23 and paratriathlon champions as well.

Findlay joins Victoria's Kirsten Sweetland, a silver medallist at this month's Commonwealth Games, and Sarah-Anne Brault of Quebec City in the elite women's field. Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., and Andrew Yorke of Caledon, Ont., race the elite men's event Aug. 31.

Findlay's star shone bright prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She won six world championship series races over 2010 and 2011, including one on London's Olympic course.

Nike Air Max 90 Glow But a hip injury suffered while preparing for a World Cup in Edmonton in July, 2011, was the beginning of a downward spiral. She split with her coach the following spring.

With only six weeks of quality training prior to the Olympics, Findlay crossed the finish line last in London and sobbed out an apology to Canada. Olympic gold and silver medallist Simon Whitfield criticized her support team the following day for their handling of Findlay's situation.

It's been a series of health issues for Findlay since then which limited her races. The latest was a stress fracture in her pelvis diagnosed in March.

Unable to run until recently, most of her training has been on the bike and in the pool. Findlay also has another new coach in Siri Lindley after parting ways with Joel Filiol in May.

Air Max 2014 Women "It is not ideal to go into a world championships without a big season of races under your belt, but I got a new coach in June and it has been the best three months of my life following three very difficult years," Findlay said.

"This spring I was really quite down. I lost hope and even considered giving up. But I am in such a good place right now mentally and physically.

"And to be able to go back now and race in Edmonton is an extra spark of motivation for me."

Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse Triathlon Canada high-performance director Libby Burrell says Findlay deserves the chance to race in a "quality field without the weight of expectations on her shoulders."

"Paula has a long road back to the top," Burrell continued. "She took a big step forward last weekend in Kelowna by finishing healthy and happy. This will be another small step in her journey to returning to being an elite athlete. Every decision we make regarding her now is with her long term health as our primary focus."

Sweetland is a former world junior champion who also ran a gauntlet of injuries in her career. The 25-year-old won bronze in a World Triathlon Series race in Hamburg, Germany, this summer in addition to her Commonwealth silver in Glasgow, Scotland.

"I have always looked up to Kirsten. She's obviously been through a rough patch and similar journey to me and made her way back to the top," Findlay said. "Kirsten has shown it is possible. It is not easy, but it is possible."