CHALLENGES CAN'T KEEP
USA TRIATHLON KIDS
FROM COMPETING
By Lindsay Wyskowski
When you participate in triathlon, it is easy to see that people of all ages and abilities like to swim, bike and run. Triathlon is a sport that can include everyone, because many people learn how to swim or bike or run at some point in their lives. Sometimes, you might see athletes at a race who are a little different than you, but they still like to race.
Two USA Triathlon Kids — Ben Baltz and Hayleigh Yeoh — face challenges in their daily lives but they still like triathlon and other sports, just like you.
Ben is 11 and lives in Florida. In 2008, when Ben was 6, he found out he had cancer in a bone in his right leg. Now he has a new leg called a prosthetic. A prosthetic can help someone stay active even if they have trouble with one of their arms or legs.
Ben has been doing triathlons for two years now, and his favorite part of triathlons is the bike portion. He also likes to play other sports, including baseball, ping-pong, running, swimming and soccer. One day, Ben wants to play on the baseball team at his high school. He will be in seventh grade in the fall, and he says his favorite subject in school is social studies.
Through the challenges Ben has faced, he says his family and friends are very supportive of him. Ben’s dad says, “He is just getting to be a kid, enjoying life to its fullest.”
Hayleigh is 8 and lives in California. She was born with an eye problem that makes it hard for her to see, and she uses braces to walk because she was also born without toes.
Hayleigh started swimming when she was very young, and has also tried horseback riding, skiing and sled hockey. Recently she participated in the 11th Annual PossAbilities Triathlon, and it was her fifth time doing the race.
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