104 Disabled Athletes Display Prowess at Exciting San Diego Triathlon

By Tina Eichner

The crisp air was filled with anticipation as countless swimmers assembled on the beach of La Jolla Cove under a flawless morning sky for the first portion of the 12th Annual San Diego Triathlon Oct. 30. The eagerly awaited event is the primary fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF).

Participants, relatives, and friends greeted one another with hugs and handshakes and posed for photographs as the swimmers stretched and donned their swim caps.

The race began in two waves: one start for the individual participants and another for the teams. This reporter stood on the beach in awe of it all, inspired, moved, and caught up in the excitement. The race was a perfect first introduction to the O&P community for this longtime technology journalist. I learned two valuable lessons that day: that limits are only what we place upon ourselves and to never wear shoes and socks on the beach (a fact of which this Colorado gal was not aware).

Before the race, the 104 physically challenged athletes participating in the event were introduced and their athletic accomplishments announced, to the applause of hundreds of participants and supporters. CAF also announced "Operation Rebound," the foundation's newest program, which brought 11 wounded soldiers from the Iraq war to La Jolla Cove to participate in the San Diego Triathlon Challenge.

Top fundraising honors went to Dan Powell, who raised more than $122,000, reaching a lifetime total of $309,000. Bobby Bostic raised $82,000, for a lifetime total of $349,000; and Scott Stackman, a first-time CAF fundraiser, rounded out the top three with nearly $50,000 raised.

An impressive $159,000 was raised by 175 riders in the stationary bike spinathon, The Tour de Cove, held in conjunction with the triathlon.

The next generation of challenged athletes was well represented, with Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Cameron Clapp, Johnny O'Neill, Roderick Sewell, and Roy Perkins Jr. showing the way for a fresh crop of bi-lateral leg amputees--including one, Tomas Klein, all the way from Belgium. A highlight of the day occurred when Rudy led the bilateral "posse" on a run around the Cove area, culminating in a wild sprint across the finish line to the resounding cheers of hundreds of enthusiastic spectators.

Another buzz heard through the weekend was the opening of Emmanuel's Gift, the award-winning documentary film about the life and accomplishments of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who also was a participant in the triathlon. On Saturday afternoon Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern were recognized for their work to bring Emmanuel's inspiring story of triumph and courage to film. The Ghanian man, born with a severely deformed right leg, has bicycled his way across Ghana to change perceptions and politics about people with disabilities.

104 Disabled Athletes Display Prowess at Exciting San Diego Triathlon

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104 Disabled Athletes Display Prowess at Exciting San Diego Triathlon

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