Howie Sanborn

Started: Before his accident, he began competing in triathlon as an age group athlete while serving with the US Army. "[After the accident in 2012] I was literally in the ICU [intensive care unit] looking at handcycles online. I actually did my first Para triathlon seven months after my accident." (Dare2tri YouTube channel, 08 Nov 2021; teamusa.com, 30 Nov 2018) Reason: During his recovery at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago [RIC] in the United States of America, he was introduced to Keri Serota, co-founder of the Dare2tri Para triathlon club. "I started doing triathlon in 2009, able-bodied, and it was just kind of a side project, a hobby that I really enjoyed. I just kind of woke up [after his accident] and was like, 'Alright, I guess I'll do this as a Para triathlete now'. I think I fell in love with triathlons because they are so difficult. I've always strived to be a little better than everybody else." (Dare2tri YouTube channel, 08 Nov 2021; teamusa.com, 30 Nov 2018) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (triathlon.org, 24 May 2024) Additional Info: ARMY VETERAN He served in the US Army for 15 years as an airborne ranger and as a demonstrator on the US Army Parachute Team, the 'Golden Knights'. "Both my dad and grandfather were in the military. I signed up when I was 17. We say airborne rangers move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier. I always wanted to be that guy. In 2007 I became a Golden Knight, joining the United States Army Parachute Team. I haven't changed that much since the accident. In my military career I was always very passionate about being the best of the best, being at the top of my game." (Dare2tri YouTube channel, 08 Nov 2021; teamusa.com, 30 Nov 2018; dvidshub.net, 05 Jul 2017) FULL CIRCLE He earned his spot on the US team for the 2024 Paralympic Games at the 2024 Americas Championships, held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in the United States of America. He used to do military training near the speedway with the US Army Parachute Team. "For me it's kind of like a really cool circle. That's where we used to do our winter training. So, we'd be down there skydiving for about two and a half months in Homestead Air Force Base. And in 2012 I got paralysed and I really felt like I went from the top tier to the bottom. Now I feel like I come back to Homestead as a top tier athlete. So it's kind of a really cool circle story." (USA Triathlon TikTok profile, 27 Mar 2024; usatriathlon.org, 08 Mar 2024)