What is your history with sports and athletics?
I began swimming competitively at the age of 11 and quickly discovered that I had a natural ability for the sport. By the time I was transitions from high school to college I was an 8 time state champion, ranked in the top 5 nationally in 2 of my events, and received the National High School Swimmer of the Year award. I accepted a swimming scholarship to the University of Tennessee, where I would qualify for the 2008 Olympic Trials. I would never get to compete in 2008, however, because I would retire from the sport rather abruptly by 2006…
What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?
I enjoy competing. I enjoy training with others. I love being able to track my progress and the focus that training brings. Some of my favorite moments are when I am on a long swim, run, or ride by myself- I get to use those moments to convene with God- and through sport my faith is strengthened.
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?
After I quit swimming I quickly started chasing other things that I had always missed out on- such as concerts, partying, drinking, and eventually- drugs. For nearly all of my 20s I was addicted to heroin and meth. I was in and out of jail, constantly involved in violence and criminal activity. That lifestyle wore me down and after almost a decade of living that way I didn’t want to live any longer. I made a plan to end my life if I made it to 30. God was gracious by sparing my life through many overdoses and I would find my way to a Christian based rehab for men at the age of 29. It was there where I surrendered to Christ- and after some time with sobriety- I dared to enter the world of sport once again.
Has your participation helped you overcome any major life issues?
Doing triathlons does more than keep me sober. It is bigger than that! But not so big that my identity is found in it- as was the case when I was a competitive swimmer. As a Christian first- triathlon simply acts to balance out my life and strengthen my faith.
What is your “why?”
God has blessed me with a family, he has helped me to restore relationships I thought I had completely broken, and sport has become an important part of my lifestyle and is vital in maintaining a homeostasis in my life.
What is your favorite gear or training equipment?
My favorite piece of gear is my Trek Domane SL 6. Biking is the most foreign to me of the the 3 disciplines in triathlon. I enjoy the learning curve ahead of me with cycling.
Do you have a favorite race or event?
I am currently training for sprint triathlons but plan to make the jump to Olympic distance the second half of the year. A big goal is to compete at nationals by next year.
What’s next?
Next is a good nights rest and then an early morning swim followed by an intense track workout- and I am pretty pumped about it!
Any fun facts about yourself?
I have been blessed and privileged to be apart of a new church called Rocket City Church– where I get the opportunity to be apart of the worship teams and cultivate healthy friendships and relationships.
Do you have any advice for someone interested in getting started?
It can be overwhelming- especially when it comes to gear. Start small- in all aspects- with race distances, training goals, and gear. Give it a year and decide if it is a lifestyle that you want to be apart of and how much time you want to dedicate to it before you go hiring a coach and getting a $10,000 bike.
Any other comments or stories you’d like to share?
I never want someone to feel like I am forcing my beliefs into them. My faith in Christ has so drastically changed my life that I can’t help but tell others- and I know that all don’t believe as I do- and that ok! I hope that if anyone is curious about triathlon, swimming, or their faith that they feel comfortable reaching out to me.