A.J.'s TRIATHLON COMEBACK
A.J. van Vuren is 8 years old and lives in Illinois. Like most kids his age, he likes playing lots of sports like swimming and soccer. Triathlon is one of his favorite activities, and he did his first triathlon two years ago.
“It is a fun sport and it keeps you busier than staying on the computer and watching TV,” he said. “The sport is unique because they put three sports into one. You can become better and better, and if you keep training and keep working hard when you are older you can go to the Olympics for triathlon and be a pro.”
In August, A.J. won his age group at the 2013 USA Triathlon Youth National Championships in West Chester, Ohio. He practiced swimming, biking and running with his club, the Multisport Madness Triathlon Team, so he could be a stronger, faster triathlete. “On a team it’s better than training by yourself,” A.J. said. “At races your team supports you while you are racing and I like that. MMTT is a very competitive team.”
A.J. has a lot of fun when he participates in triathlon, but he also knows the importance of listening to your body and being safe. When A.J. raced at Youth Nationals in 2012, he was having trouble breathing on the run. He went to the hospital and learned he had asthma, a condition that affects a person’s airways. After his diagnosis, A.J.’s doctor helped him with a treatment plan, which would allow A.J. to keep swimming, playing soccer and participating in triathlons.
Once A.J. knew how to manage his asthma, he started practicing his swimming, biking and running again with his team. Sometimes he would train with teammates who are older than him so he could race at a higher level. He wanted to have a strong showing at Youth Nationals after what had happened the year before, and he accomplished his goal when he won his race.
“Something big that happens to you can never stop you from something that you love,” A.J. said. “I never give up.”
Editor’s note: Asthma can seem scary but it is manageable – there are even Olympic athletes who have asthma. If you have questions about asthma, you can talk to your parents or your doctor. To learn more about asthma, visit
www.cdc.gov/asthma/children.htm.
When you exercise, you will help your asthma if you follow these tips:
• Go easy – start exercising slowly and finish your exercise with a cool down.
• Take a buddy – play or exercise with a friend.
• Know your triggers – stay away from the things that can trigger your asthma.
• Take breaks – they will help you catch your breath. And drink plenty of water
• Mix it up – do different activities like in-line skating one day and taking a long walk the next day
• Check air quality – exercise outside only when the air is clean. Before you exercise, check the weather on TV or on a computer to see how clean the air is. (via
www.cdc.gov/asthma/pdfs/kids_fast_facts.pdf)
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