No Boundaries! When Caleb was born with Down syndrome 15 years ago, we made the decision to increase him like a neuro-regular kid as substantially as probable, which intended attempting new sporting activities and actions much too.
We never dreamed he’d turn into a triathlete, but below we are.
Just about two several years in the past, we enrolled him in a bicycle camp.
It took a ton of get the job done, sweat and extra function, but he grew to become an independent bike-rider! We ended up thrilled, but then we challenged him to complete the Couch-to-5K jogging software offered by means of our regional Special Olympics.
Once more, it was a large amount of work, and more sweat, but he done his very first 5K race in the slide of 2020. Then some thing major transpired. Specific Olympics opened up their Triathlon plan to the complete point out of Florida. We resolved to “give it a tri”. That’s when the real perform commenced!
Considering that January 2021, Caleb has been instruction hard 6 days a week. Swimming, biking, functioning, lifting weights, rowing…working to pursue his aim of finishing a complete-sprint triathlon 400-meter swim/10.5 mile bike/5K operate.
In July 2021, that aspiration arrived accurate, and Caleb turned the youngest man or woman with Down syndrome (at age 14) to entire a whole-sprint tri. Due to the fact then, he’s absent on to comprehensive 6 far more, and has his eyes established on an Olympic Distance tri in the coming yr.
He competed at the Particular Olympics United states of america Video games and will be competing afterwards this summer months at the Usa Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals, along with Age Team Nationals. Caleb is also the youngest ambassador for the Usa Triathlon Basis – his platform is to persuade youth of ALL talents to pursue fitness and healthier living aims (and try triathlon!)
We are so incredibly happy of Caleb. Not only has he proved time and time again his dedication to this sport, but we appreciate the actuality that he’s a job design for other young people today. Individuals with Down syndrome, or any differing capability, can surely dwell a wholesome life-style. Exercise, taking in proper and possessing a constructive mind-set can enable not only bodily, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Caleb has a vibrant long run in advance of him and we are prepared to aid him in all his dreams and objectives. The sky’s the restrict! Adhere to his journey on his social media: Calebs Crew (FB/IG)
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