NEWS & NOTES
PARATRIATHLON LEGEND JIM MACLAREN DIES
By Challenged Athletes Foundation
Jim MacLaren, who at one time was the world’s fastest amputee triathlete, passed away August 30. His life was short but amazingly impactful. After getting hit by a New York City bus while on his motorcycle back in 1985 and having his lower leg amputated below the knee, the former Yale football player reinvented himself and became the Babe Ruth of amputee athletes, running a 3:16 marathon and going 10:42 at the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii.
In June of 1993, while competing in a triathlon in Orange County, Calif., MacLaren was on his bike when a van went through a closed intersection, hit the back of the bike and propelled him into a pole. When he arrived at the hospital, he was told that he was a quadriplegic and would never move again from the waist down.
Bob Babbitt , Jeffrey Essakow and Rick Kozlowski, three of his many friends from the sport of triathlon, created a triathlon in San Diego after the accident to buy Jim a vehicle that he could drive with his hands. The goal was to raise $25,000 and they ended up raising $48,000 through the first ever San Diego Triathlon Challenge. “At that event,” remembers Babbitt , “a number of other amputee athletes came up to us to thank us for what we did for Jim, but to also let us know that there were so many other athletes out there that needed help. Insurance would cover a walking leg, but anything having to do with sport was considered a luxury item.”
From Jim’s second tragedy, the Challenged Athletes Foundati on was born and in the 17 years since, CAF has raised over $28,000,000 to help disabled athletes stay in the game of life by providing grants to help purchase the equipment they need to stay in the game of life through sport. “CAF is Jimmy’s legacy,” continues Babbitt . “I’m proud to say that, through the athletes that we help every day, his impact will live on forever.”
USAT EXPANDS COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARATRIATHLETES
In order to better meet the needs of emerging populations of paratriathletes, USA Triathlon in June announced it has developed a new Physically Challenged Division that highlights a more flexible disability classification policy.
The Physically Challenged Division was developed, in part, out of concerns from visually impaired paratriathletes about potentially being required to wear blackout glasses on the run portion of USAT-sanctioned events following the implementation of a new competitive rule by the International Triathlon Union (ITU), and in turn USAT, in 2010.
The creation of the Physically Challenged Division allows USAT-sanctioned race directors to define how disabled categories – including the visually impaired category – can be designed to suit the competitor audience of their specific races, making it possible to have multiple classifications within a disabled category. Visually impaired athletes competing domestically in the Physically Challenged Division will not be required to race with blackout glasses.
The only event in the United States this year where the use of all ITU paratriathlon categories and regulations – including the “blackout glasses” rule – was mandated was the 2010 Accenture USA Paratriathlon National Championship. This event was the lone qualifier for the 2010 ITU Paratriathlon World Championship.
USA TRIATHLON PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
GATORADE
USA Triathlon and Gatorade announced that the two multi sport industry leaders have agreed to a three-year deal that enhances and expands Gatorade’s positi on as a Gold- Level partner and the offi cial sports beverage of USA Triathlon through 2012. Gatorade is the longest-tenured corporate sponsor in the history of USA Triathlon, with the relati onship dati ng back more than 10 years.
In addition to providing product for each of USA Triathlon’s national championship events, Gatorade will supply G Series Pro Endurance Formula and merchandise annually to a maximum of 85 USA Triathlon-sanctioned events managed by USA Triathlon-certified race directors, including regional championships and qualifier events.
ENDURANCE FILMS
USA Triathlon and Endurance Films will continue their partnership with a new two-year agreement designating the Louisville, Ky.-based video production company as an official supplier and the official film production company of USA Triathlon through 2011. USAT members will receive a 15 percent discount on all Endurance Films products, including the “USA Triathlon Training Series,” which can be purchased through
endurancefilms.com.
HIGH COUNTRY SHIPPING
USA Triathlon’s members and programs will benefit from a new two-year partnership that designates High Country Shipping as an official bike transport supplier for USAT National Events and the USA Paratriathlon program through 2011. Through the agreement, all USAT annual members are eligible for a 10 percent discount on all bike shipping needs through High Country Shipping.
DEFEET INTERNATIONAL
DeFeet International is designated as the official sock supplier of USA Triathlon and the USA Triathlon National Teams Program. The company produces a co-branded DeFeet/USA Triathlon sock that is available through retail outlets and a at
usatstore.com. Additionally, USAT-sanctioned race directors and official USAT clubs are eligible for a 10 percent discount on custom socks.
LIBERTY MUTUAL
An official associate partner of USA Triathlon, Liberty Mutual offers exclusively priced premiums to USA Triathlon members on car and home insurance policies.
MINERVA HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES
Minerva Health Technologies Inc. has been designated as an official associate partner of USA Triathlon and the USA Triathlon National Teams Program. As USAT’s exclusive and off cial personal health record manager, Minerva will provide athletes with an easy-to-use soft ware system allowing them to enter all of their health records on their own computer and store them on a lightweight wristband.
TRITATS Designated as an official associate partner of USAT, TriTats provides removable, triathlon-specific tattoos that take the place of traditional, race-day body marking at multisport events.
22 USA TRIATHLON FALL 10
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