Beyond Triathlon

Jeffrey Glasbrenner, Kelly Bruno, Melissa Stockwell and Rudy Garcia-Tolson, showed that triathlon isn't their only sport last summer as these physically challenged athletes spent time in the spotlight while taking on other athletic endeavors. Be sure to check out the related photo gallery and the Winter 2009 issue of USA Triathlon Life magazine, which hits mailboxes later this month, for more features.

Jeffrey Glasbrenner
Glasbrenner is just starting to catch his breath after an action-packed summer. Not only did he compete in his third Paralympic Games as a member of the U.S. basketball team, but he also stuck with his triathlon training and competed in the Ironman World Championships, 70.3 Ironman World Championships, Ironman Malaysia and the ITU World Championships. In addition, Glasbrenner hit the roads for a couple of major running events – the Marine Corps Marathon and the Hood to Coast Relay.

While participating in all of the team activities at the Games: practices, video sessions and games, Glasbrenner continued to prepare for the Ironman World Championships.

“I brought my bike to China and was on the trainer every day during the Paralympics,” he said.

Glasbrenner also has dealt with the challenge of training for two sports with very different skill sets and contrasting styles of athleticism.

“Competing in both sports at the highest level is very difficult,” he said. “I have always been very driven and enjoy pushing myself to new levels. In basketball it helps to be big and explosive, but in triathlons you need to be lean and mean."

Melissa Stockwell
A common theme at the Paralympic Games is proudly representing one’s country. Stockwell not only experienced the honor of representing the U.S. in Beijing, but the Paralympic swimmer also earned the respect of her peers and was selected to carry the U.S. flag for the closing ceremonies.

“There were so many other deserving athletes, and I was very humbled to be the one representing them at closing ceremonies,” she said. “I don’t have words to express the meaning of carrying our nation’s colors into the Bird’s Nest. It was the perfect ending to such an incredible experience.”

Stockwell, who lost her left leg to a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq, is the first veteran injured in Iraq to compete on the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team. She has received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for her military service.

A newcomer to the Paralympics, Stockwell has quickly cemented her presence as one to watch.

“I challenge myself with the Paralympics and triathlons for the feeling of accomplishment when I hit the wall of the pool or cross the finish line,” she said. “The feeling of taking on a challenge and accomplishing it, there is no better feeling.”

Rudy Garcia-Tolson
This ambitious teenager already has competed in two Paralympic Games, including the Beijing Games. Despite his youth, Garcia-Tolson has plenty of hardware to show for his efforts in swimming and triathlon.

Garcia-Tolson says his proudest accomplishment was winning gold medal in the 200 IM at the Sydney Paralympics.

“I set that goal when I was 7 years old and ended up surprising myself and a lot of people, he said. “It was a long journey.”

While swimming is his main sport – he has lived and trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs – Garcia-Tolson plans to venture back into triathlons soon and compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona.

Kelly Bruno
Balancing the demands of competing in triathlons internationally with other ambitions – whether they be medical school or an opportunity to be on the tennis court with the pros at the U.S. Open – is nothing new to Bruno.

The Duke University graduate and USAT national champion won a gold medal at the ITU World Championship in June. But Bruno stepped out of the water and off the bike to serve as a ball girl at the U.S. Open in New York. She broke down a barrier in becoming the first person with a disability to serve as ball person.

“The best thing about the experience was that I could really demonstrate the abilities of someone living with a disability,” Bruno said. “It’s actually a harder position than it looks, as I learned first hand after spending three weeks on the courts at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. But it’s not impossible, and that’s what I hoped to show people during the time I was there.”

After the U.S. Open, Bruno set a new Ironman personal best of 12:29:03 at the Beach 2 Battleship Ironman. But the world-class results aren’t what she enjoys most about triathlon.

“Most importantly, triathlon has given me the means to really overcome my disability and hopefully through non-profits such as Wounded Warrior Project and Challenged Athletes Foundation, I can share the sport of triathlon with even more disabled individuals,” Bruno said.

Have you or another USAT member you know done something amazing in or out of competition? Let us know, and we’ll consider your story for Members in the News. Send an email to communications@usatriathlon.org.