COEUR d'ALENE - Linda Danforth believes she knows which woman will win Sunday's Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

She's going with Heather Wurtele, the 32-year-old Canadian who won this race in 2008.

Wurtele is a strong swimmer, biker and runner, is ready for a great day and has a super attitude, Danforth said, smiling.

"I think she's going to kick butt," said the resident of Kelowna, British Columbia, as she watched Friday's press conference featuring top pros in Sunday's Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

Of course, Danforth is a little biased because she is, after all, Heather Wurtele's mom.

"She's always been a delight," Danforth said.

The 6-foot-2 Wurtele was relaxed and confident during the 45-minute press conference at the City Park bandshell.

She had a spectacular 2011, winning the Ford Ironman Lake Placid and the Ford Ironman St. George, and placing second in the Ironman 70.3 in Boise.

Her approach on Sunday is simple.

"Just go out there and really execute as well as I can, demonstrate my fitness and give it all I have," she said.

Wurtele was joined on stage by professional triathletes Chris Lieto, Tim O'Donnell, Viktor Zyemtsev, Meredith Kessler and Christie Sym.

She believes that she has put in the work and will have a good day.

"It's a race against other people, it's a race against yourself to not give into those dark moments you always have when you're out there," she said.

"You have to just keep the pressure on and keep pushing as hard as you can."

In one of many light moments, Wurtele was asked about the paint job on her bike by announcer Mike Reilly.

Her once navy blue bike, she said, is now turquoise, with "girlie flowers."

"I have a chick bike now," she said, laughing. "I'm 6-2. You can't tell because I have no torso, but when I stand up I'm really quite tall. I often get mistaken for a guy."

Height runs in the family.

Dad Wayne is 6-4 and brother Jeff stands 7 feet. Really. And no, he's not a basketball player. He's an economist with the federal government.

"He's the one with the white picket fence and the three kids," Linda Danforth said.

Her daughter's success as a professional triathlete is not a surprise. As a child, Heather had a "fabulous work ethic."

"She was always really focused, very bright. She always won the academic awards."

Heather excelled academically and was a varsity rower in college before turning her talents to triathlons. Her husband, Trevor, is also a professional triathlete.

Heather agreed she has always been driven to succeed.

"I was really an academic geek growing up. If I didn't get an A-plus in everything, I would freak out," she said.

She praised her parents for always being supportive - even when they expressed a little dismay when she informed them she planned to make a living by swimming, biking and running.

She recalled their reaction as being something like, "What do you mean you're going to be a professional triathlete and not a scientist?"

Now, they follow their daughter in their RV.

"They're super fans. They know I'm happy doing what I'm doing and able to have a successful career," she said.

Linda Danforth couldn't agree more - and believes her daughter will show it on Sunday.

"I think she's going to be on the podium for sure," she insisted.

Quotes from the Ironman Coeur d'Alene press conference:

Vyktor Zyemtsev (two-time Ironman Coeur d'Alene winner):

Asked about race plans by announcer Mike Reilly: "Push Hard."

Meredith Kessler: She will be wearing number 45 Sunday, in recognition of her 45th Ironman.

"Each race I view as a celebration of hard work that was put into it. It's my 9 to 5 now. As everyone out there can attest, we put a lot of time and effort into what we do, like you all do in your day jobs. When you get to race day, it's like you're giving a presentation for your boss or a client at work. You need to execute that."

Christie Sym:

"For all the first-timers out there, just enjoy the day. I really believe your first Ironman can be your best for a while, so don't let anyone scare you."

Tim O'Donnell:

"I've always considered myself a pretty consistent racer, until I started doing the Ironman stuff. It's been an absolute roller coaster."

Heather Wurtele on the Lake Coeur d'Alene water temperature:

"Embrace cold water. Say, 'I love cold water. This is going to be awesome.' That's the best way you can approach it."

Chris Lieto in response to a question from an 11-year-old on Ironman racing:

"Just have fun. Enjoy what you're doing. It's not a job. It's not something you have pressure to do. It's just go out and have a good time. If you finish first, if you finish 10th or you finish last, just enjoy it and learn from it."

Announcer Mike Reilly to the crowd, in response to Lieto's comments he may hit 60 mph during the long downhills on Sunday:

"Keep in mind, they're vying for $75,000 in prize money. You're not. Just be very careful on those downhills."

Meredith Kessler on what she likes to eat after the race:

"I go straight to the McDonald's drive-through from the finish line and I get an extra large fry. And they are ordered to please make it for me right there because it needs to be extra hot with extra salt and I tip them. And it works."

"So you know where the nearest McDonald's is?" Reilly asked

"There's like five within a three-mile radius, so I'm dialed in," Kessler said.