Behind every individual athletic accomplishment is typically a group of others who help remove the athlete's obstacles. When USAT last spoke with Scott Rigsby, he was busy overcoming obstacles in the way of his ambitious goal of becoming the first documented double amputee in the world to complete an Ironman while running on a set of prosthetics. Rigsby destroyed one of the biggest obstacles in his path on October 1 by becoming the first documented double amputee in the world to ever finish a Half-Ironman on prosthetic legs. As he sprinted toward the finish line at the South Carolina Half-Ironman at the Greenwood State Park, Rigsby “received a thunderous ovation, one that continued for several minutes after he crossed the line.” One triathlete finisher told another athlete that, “there were very few dry eyes in the crowd when Scott finished the race.” World triathlon history was made and one more barrier on the multisport playing field for the physically challenged was destroyed. It was a great day for everyone who witnessed this event. Only the Coeur d’Alene Ironman stands in his way, but if you know Scott; that’s not in his way for very long.
USAT caught up with some of the key players in this historic event: Scott, Jeremey Davis, Set-Up, Inc, the race director for the S.C. Half Ironman, Scott’s Coach Tony Myers, and one of Scott's training partners, Mike Lenhart.
USAT: So, how does it feel to make triathlon history?
SR: It's amazing! I feel so blessed! It's one step closer to my ultimate goal, an Ironman. My coach and I worked so hard to get to this point and it is very rewarding. It's also an answered prayer. I prayed the night before that God would grant me His favor and (no flat tires) in the race so that by my finishing the race it would be a true testimony of His goodness to me in spite of the tragedy that I have endured and evidence of His continued great plan for my life.
After I completed the World Triathlon Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland, the ITU added an additional category next year for double amputee triathletes that run on prosthesis and after this race, Set Up Inc., the race promoters, added a physically challenged category to all their races. I love being the pioneer for double amputee triathletes and a vehicle of change worldwide throughout the triathlon community. After my first interview with USAT so many triathletes from around the world sent me the most encouraging and supportive emails. It has been overwhelming at times. I mean that in a good way. My inbox on my computer stays full and I feel guilty for taking so long to get back to people when they were nice enough to write me.
Just the kindness of people especially within the triathlete community has been humbling. I have never experienced a sport like this where you have such a true sense of "family". The general public just doesn't have any clue what they are missing. Being a triathlete is one of the greatest things that could ever happen to a person.
USAT: Tony, you are Scott's coach. What is it like training a double amputee triathlete? Have you ever trained any other physically challenged athletes?
TM: I told Scott when we first discussed working together I wasn't going to treat him any differently than the other triathletes I coach; I hope that's been the case. However from my prospective, my personal experience has been thrilling, sometimes frightening, always exciting. There are complexities associated with his legs that might never occur to the average able-bodied athlete and those complexities have helped me realize how incredible what he's doing really is, how unique it is, and how unique Scott is for achieving all he has and all he will.
USAT: What challenges have you two had to overcome to make it this far?
TM: To begin with, few realize when I met Scott in February he didn't really ride a bike, had never been on a road or tri bike, had never worn cycling shoes much less clipped them in pedals, had never swam any appreciable distance, never worn a wetsuit, oh - and had never been exposed to disciplined multisport training. Those were enormous challenges from the onset.
USAT: Mike, you are one of Scott's training partners. What is it like training with a double amputee triathlete? Have other triathletes asked you about training with Scott or made comments about you training with him?
Ml: I have always tried to treat training with Scott no different than training with able-bodied athletes. Scott is no different in that regard. There are limitations that we all have with respect to competing. For me, it’s running hills. For Scott, one example was learning to use clipless pedals since he has little to no lateral movement in his prosthetics. We met one weeknight after Scott decided to try out some Speedplay pedals. We got on the bikes and worked out the kinks. Again, no different than working with other triathletes. I'm fortunate to train with a group of individuals where sharing of tips and techniques is paramount. Sure, we're competitive on race day. But for training, we're a group of athletes dedicated to everyone's improvements.
USAT: Scott, it sounds like you are still as excited as when you finished the race? Before we discuss the race, will you share with us what your pre-race week was like? Were you able relax?
SR: No, it was stressful. My 20th high school reunion was scheduled on the same weekend as the SC Half; I was asked by my high school to speak with their football team and then give the invocation before the homecoming game; and I had an interview for two local publications. I live about 3 1/2 hours from where I grew up so the Friday before the race I drove down that morning went to the homecoming parade, did my interviews, gave a pep talk to the football team, visited my parents, attended the homecoming game, (we won big), visited with my old classmates, after the game drove to Atlanta, and got in bed around 2 a.m. The next morning my coach, Tony Myers, and one of my training partners, Mike Lenhart, and I drove to South Carolina.
As for the night before the race, I had a great Italian dinner with lots of friends, and then tried to go to sleep early but my school, the University of Georgia, was losing in college football and I couldn't go to sleep until they got the lead. Ugh! I ended up getting 4 1/2 hours of sleep before the race.
USAT: That's not much rest before the biggest race of your life? Obviously, you accomplish your goal to finish the race, but tell us what it was like being there?
SR: It was an unbelievable experience and one that I will always treasure. Everything that day just seemed to fall in place from the beginning. Even though I didn't get much sleep, when I woke race day morning I felt so strong. I couldn't wait to get to the race.
When I arrived at the transition area, Jeremey Davis and his crew from Set-up, Inc. had given me lots of extra space to put all my stuff. I brought six legs so some races can be a logistical nightmare. In the past I have had to stack legs on top of each other to get all my things in the allotted area. It makes for nightmare transition times. Race day, everyone I met, especially all the people from Greenwood were so supportive and accommodating.
At the swim start, I had the usual nerves, but lots of people were encouraging me and I really felt the prayers of so many people easing all the anxiety that I had. Jeremey announced my wave and what I was about attempt and it was "show time."
USAT: Jeremey, Scott just mentioned some pre-race jitters. What was the pre-race atmosphere like? Was history being made a topic of conversation?
JD: Yes, it was. From the moment we posted the story on our web site athletes began to buzz. The local community embraced Scott and his goal of finishing the South Carolina half. On race morning you could see the look of amazement on the athletes’ faces when Scott walked in to the transition area. And just before his wave started the swim we made the announcement that Scott Rigsby was here in this wave about to make world history. The energy was electric as the athletes in the water gave him a "wading ovation" unlike any I had heard. It really sank in just before he got into the water, when Scott handed his coach (Tony Myers) his legs. I thought, “this man was about to attempt the ‘impossible’ and do it with a smile on his face.”
USAT: A Half Ironman is a very challenging race for an able bodied athlete. What were your thoughts when Scott, a double amputee, first signed up to run your race? Any concerns?
JD: Not at all. We thought "great!" What better way is there to showcase the human spirit than to tackle a challenge head on? Scott has done this ever since his accident. In some form or another we all do this every day. That is the beauty of the sport, it forces us to focus on the challenges, the rough patches, during a much scaled down moment it time. When someone like Scott tackles a task like this it makes us all realize how strong we as human beings can be. Any chance we get to witness this sort of courage we will take. To have it happen at our event where our athletes can be a part of it was just an added bonus. We felt lucky to have Scott face another challenge at our event.
USAT: Scott, now the race starts. Will you share with us some of your thoughts during each phase of the race?
SR: The swim went well and it was a personal record for me. I had planned on finishing in an hour, but I made it in 46 minutes. I was pleased. Not bad for a guy who only started swimming eight months ago? On the swim I just made it my goal to never let my arms stop. I wanted to give myself the most cushion at the end of the race that I possibly could so I just swam the fastest that I could without wiping me out. Tony was there as my handler so he brought me my legs and I was off to my bike.
I was very excited about the bike course because it was a rolling, challenging course with a head wind. One thing that helped me on the bike was I was somewhat familiar with the bike course because Mike Lenhart, my training partner, and I rode a modified version of the course the previous Sunday. I say "somewhat" and "modified", because you would think that at West Point or the Army's Ranger school they would have taught Mike how to read a map. It worked out great for me, because "Mike's course" was more difficult, than the actual race course. Just as Tony has a run strategy, Mike had a strategy for me to go faster on the bike. He said that he was going to tape a picture of the beautiful South African triathlete, Carla, the one that cheered me on at Worlds, on to the back of his bike jersey and ride ahead of me to motivate me to go faster. If that didn't work, then he was going to get some long fake French braids and hang them out both sides of his helmet like Carla wears. Somehow, I think the message might have been lost when you combine a military haircut and French braids. Fortunately, we didn't have to resort to such drastic measures. I finished in 3 hours and 27 minutes.
Now here comes my weakest link. The only thing that I wish I would have been able to do better was the transition. I wasn't as slow as usual because Tony and I had spent some time working on it, but there are still lots of room for improvement. I am slow because of my current prosthetic set up. That is being resolved so my transition times should improve dramatically for future races.
USAT: So you made it this far, how was the run? How did you feel going into the run?
SR: After loading up on food, I went out on the run. Thirteen miles would be the longest distance that I had ever run. Currently, my running legs are just not set up to carry me that kind of distance consistently, but that day, once I made it to the run, I wasn't going to let anything stand in my way of finishing. Even if I had to walk on my knees or crawl to the finish line, nothing was going to stop me.
It was very hot out on the course, but one of the great things that prepared me for the race was that I have done so many of the Blue Sky Sports Tri the Parks Triathlons in Georgia. Very hot weather does not affect me and I certainly would never quit a race, because I was overheated. I was use to running in hot, humid weather and on rough, rolling terrain. I just kept following Tony's run plan in regards to hydrating and eating along the run. When I realized that I had an hour to spare, at the 2.1 mile mark before the finish, I really slowed my pace down, because I didn't want to injure myself. At the time of the race, my current prosthetic set up was not up to date for elite amputee runners, but I knew if I could make it through this race then I could address that issue later.
USAT: What was it like as you approached the finish line?
SR: I know I sound repetitive, but it was humbling and just one of the best feelings of my life. I had already made world triathlon history back in July, (NYC Triathlon) by becoming the first documented double amputee in the world to complete an Olympic distance triathlon on prosthetics, but this achievement was different. As I made my way to the finish line I had to run past the lake where we started the race. The view and the setting were breath taking. It was like something out of a movie. People were lined up along the finish and as I ran up the hill to the complete the race they were going crazy. I crossed the line and hugged my coach. I was thrilled to achieve my short term goals and now I am preparing for the Coeur d’Alene Ironman.
USAT: Mike describe for us what it was like seeing Scott cross the finish line?
Ml: Scott and I walked out to the area near the finish line the day before the race. Jeremey has a picture perfect setting for the finish line, even with a hill the final 50 yards or so. The grass knoll setting presents the perfect amphitheater-like setting for watching athletes finish. So on the day before the race, I told Scott..."I want you to imagine this grassy area, filled with people watching you finish this goal. When you get tired out there tomorrow, remember that the finish here will be worth the pain everywhere else."
Jeremey did an excellent job getting the crowd up to watch Scott come towards the finish. I don't remember his exact words, but something to the effect of "some people have a set back and choose to fade away; others choose to stand up and face the obstacles. Scott Rigsby is one such person". Not many dry eyes when Scott crossed the finish line.
USAT: So Scott, what are your future plans?
My main goal after I completed the half Ironman was to address my need for a new prosthetic set up. I know that I have the raw talent and unrelenting will that it takes to complete an Ironman but I need the right tools to make it happen so through a lot of investigation and research I decided to partner with A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Orthotics in Hicksville, N.Y. to have six (walking, running and cycling ) new prosthetic legs made. Erik Schaffer, owner and prosthesist, has designed legs for amputee Ironman triathletes and world class Paralympic athletes. I am joining Team “A
Step Ahead”, an assembly of A Step Ahead Prosthetics and Orthotics' elite amputee athletes.
According to Tony, I will have lots of volume and skill training ahead of me. I have a great sports agent so I can now focus more on training and public speaking, and a lot less on raising money. I have a big task ahead, but there is no doubt in my mind that I will complete an Ironman next year.
USAT: Scott, Tony, Mike and Jeremey, thanks for the comments. And, Scott, again “congratulations” on a great accomplishment.
NOTE: Currently Scott is being underwritten by Achilles Track Club based in New York City which is a nonprofit organization designated 501(c) (3). If you would like to partner with him, www.scottrigsby.com, in his barrier-breaking Ironman quest, and the work that he is doing to help other challenged athletes then, you can make a tax-deductible donation to Achilles Track, 42 W. 38th Street, Suite 400, New York, NY 10018, 212-354-0300 fax: 212-354-3978.
USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 2,000 races and connects with more than 80,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world.
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