U.S. Olympic Athletes

Mark Fretta

  • Home:  Portland, OR
  • Birthday:  8/3/1977

2001-05 Resident Team Member

Full Name: Mark A. Fretta
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Resides: Colorado Springs, Colo.
College: Holy Cross
Law School: Willamette University
Height: 5-11 
Weight: 150
Birthdate: 8/3/77
Years Elite: 8
Final 2007 ITU Rank: 102
Final 2007 USAT Rank: 10

Personal:  Mark A. Fretta… Born Aug. 3, 1977 in Portland, Ore… Says his favorite athlete is two-time Olympian Hunter Kemper, and has several hamsters named after Hunter… His favorite food is pizza and his favorite pre-race meal is a bagel with jelly, Gatorade and a PowerBar… His other favorite athlete is Clyde “The Glide” Drexler… Mark identifies himself as "the best basketball player in the sport of triathlon." During recovery from a fractured collar bone suffered in 2006, Mark began pursuit of a legal career in law school at Willamette University School of Law.

Elite Triathlon Career:  Finished third at ITU Geneva Pan American Cup in 2007… Finished second at ITU Doha World Cup in 2006… Mark is one of only two American male athletes ever to have held the ITU World #1 Rank (Hunter Kemper finished the year ranked #1 in 2005) when he held the #1 rank in May-June of 2006 before suffering a season-ending collar bone fracture… Participated in the 2002, 2003, and 2005 ITU Elite World Championships… Finished second at the 2006 ITU Doha World Cup in Doha, Qatar… Finished third at the 2003 ITU World Cup in Tongyeong, Korea. At that time, Mark’s finish in Korea was the first podium finish for a U.S. man at a World Cup since 2001… Qualified for the 2002 world championship team by finishing as the third American, seventh overall, at The Monster Challenge: Tri Boston world championship qualifier on Sept. 1… Finished as the top American in four ITU points races in 2001, his first season as an elite.

Amateur Triathlon Career:  Won his age group at the 2000 sprint national championships… Was the Northwest regional and sprint champion.

Athletic Background:  All-state in track and field, cross-country, and swimming in high school… Named a high school all-American in swimming… Collegiate record holder in four swimming events… Qualified for the NCAA Division I indoor/outdoor track championships in the mile and 1,500.