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    In my family, we grew up swimming. I was the least talented of the three. My sister was a nationally ranked swimmer, my brother was a natural athlete, and I always tried real hard. The story of my life in many ways, I never seem to go about things the easy way.

    Each summer, my father entered us into Peachtree City Youth Triathlon (years later, I would volunteer and announce for the event.). It was my time to shine at least within my family. Triathlon (relative to swimming) was less about natural form and feel; more about the hard work I’d been putting in for years.

    We moved to Ohio my freshman year of high school where I graduated from Bowling Green HS. I signed with Youngstown State University and my life continued in Ohio as a fighting (swimming) penguin. Levels of dysfunction began to grow at home, too many moves (Georgia – Ohio – Nevada – Georgia), loss of self, no extended family or solid support group, list goes on, but issues I was faced with my first summer home in Gerogia. My father took his life near the end of that summer, July 31, 2003.

    It was a hard loss, and it had a dramatic impact on my future choices. I transferred to Georgia State University in January 2004, and shifted my athletic focus to triathlon, specifically, Ironman Hawaii. My new obsession – Kona – kept me focused, goal-oriented, and moving forward.

    I graduated from GSU with a BS in marketing, a handful of triathlon titles – including: Long Course AG World Champion, National Collegiate Ironman Champion, Inside Triathlon All American, 3 x Ironman World Championship Top 3 AG podiums.

    I worked in the cycling industry for a year out of college but with the loss of Tour de Georgia – Last In, First Out. With the country in a deep recession, I choose to focus on the triathlon industry – my personal growth as an athlete and work within the industry – aquatic programs, private swim instruction, and triathlon consultant.


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