COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon today announced its first-ever Ambassador Program, comprised of 44 multisport athletes who have represented Team USA in international age-group competition. USA Triathlon Ambassadors will provide resources, advice and inspiration to aspiring athletes in their local communities, using their collective stories and experiences to grow multisport participation nationwide.
Ambassadors are tasked with hosting at least three presentations in their communities over the course of the year, which may include school visits, skills clinics and Q&A sessions. These events are meant to introduce prospective and beginner triathletes of all ages to the sport, as well as provide helpful resources for training and racing. Each ambassador will also nominate a support team to help plan the presentations and build interest in the multisport lifestyle.
Of the 44 ambassadors who successfully applied through a comprehensive nationwide selection process, 30 are women and 14 are men. They hail from 20 different states, with California being the most-represented, and range in age from 17 to 87. Ambassadors were selected based on their background in multisport — with the prerequisite of having competed for USA Triathlon’s amateur Team USA — as well as their commitment to the program and innovative ideas for recruiting new participants.
“We are excited to unveil the USA Triathlon Ambassador Program,” said Lauren Rios, USA Triathlon’s Team USA and Research Coordinator. “Our inaugural team of ambassadors is made up of incredibly passionate athletes who have amazing stories to tell. We are confident that this group will inspire the masses to give our sport a try, and support many new triathletes on their journeys to the start line.”
In addition to the presentations, USA Triathlon Ambassadors will also be available on a regular basis to answer training and racing questions via email or social media.
Some ambassadors will focus on specific disciplines of multisport, including triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon or aquabike, while others will focus on topics such as weight loss or mental training.
Sue Reynolds (Bloomington, Ind.), a member of Team USA who competes in the women’s 60-64 age group, wants to help others achieve the dramatic weight loss that she experienced when she started the sport.
“The sport of triathlon and the kindness of the triathlon community changed my life,” Reynolds said. “I was once 335 pounds. Triathlon helped me lose 200 pounds, discover at age 60 that I enjoy sports, and manage to go from dead last in sprint triathlons to sixth at the 2017 ITU Age Group Sprint Triathlon World Championships. I am thrilled to serve as a USA Triathlon Ambassador, and look forward to helping others discover the joy of triathlon — especially overweight folks and older women. Triathlon is for everyone!”
At age 59, Sammy Flores (Miami, Fla.) plans to use his role as an ambassador to encourage older adults to stay active by participating in triathlon.
“Triathlon has given me the opportunity to develop friendships that are enduring around a shared interest in the sport,” Flores said. “I've learned through triathlon that age is not an obstacle, but an advantage. There is struggle in the journey but reward in the finish. Being a USA Triathlon Ambassador will allow me the opportunity to encourage and inspire others to never give up.”
To find out more about each of the 44 USA Triathlon Ambassadors, visit usatriathlon.org.
2018 USA Triathlon Ambassadors
Katie Antares (Temple, Texas)
Ann Bailey (Great Falls, Va.)
Rachel Brenke (Fredericksburg, Va.)
Sharon Byun (Gainesville, Fla.)
Gloria Califf (Redmond, Wash.)
Lindsay Cheatham (Fort Worth, Texas)
Olivia Christmann (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
Rose Cintron-Allen (Cape May Court House, N.J.)
Courtney Culligan (Evergreen, Colo.)
Khadijah Diggs (Ellenwood, Ga.)
Greg Dummer (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Scott Endsley (San Diego, Calif.)
Sammy Flores (Miami, Fla.)
Adam Goulet (Portland, Ore.)
Zane Grenoble (Playa Del Rey, Calif.)
Susan Haag (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Kimberly Harris (Clinton, Md.)
Ross Hartley (Pickerington, Ohio)
Dave Holsey (Spring, Texas)
Sheri Jones (Adams, Tenn.)
Jennifer Kryzanowski (Lexington, S.C.)
Megan Livak (Neshanic Station, N.J.)
Nancy Lyon-Stadler (Shaker Heights, Ohio)
Jordan Marshall (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Rachel McCarthy (Vienna, Va.)
Caitlin McLaughlin (Deep River, Conn.)
Kim Michael-Lee (Bloomingdale, Ill.)
Marc Mone (Murrieta, Calif.)
Chris Navin (Chicago, Ill.)
Roseann Peiffer (Maumee, Ohio)
Madeleine Pesch (Madison, Wis.)
Courtney Pollman-Turner (Pensacola, Fla.)
Tonsa Price-Edwards (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Sybille Rex (Jamaica Plain, Mass.)
Sue Reynolds (Bloomington, Ind.)
Ryan Rypel (New Berlin, Wis.)
Pat Shaffer (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
David Stygar (Lebanon, Conn.)
Elizabeth Sylves (Hockessin, Del.)
Jenny Thorpe (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Matt Troy (Hoschton, Ga.)
Alisa Wise (Camas, Wash.)
Chris Wodke (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Bill Ziering (Carmel, Calif.)
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
