HOKA’s latest edition to its global ambassador line up is Sam Holness, a 27-year-old triathlete from London – identified by the Shaw Trust as one of UK’s the top 100 people with a disability.
‘Nicknamed ‘Super-Sam’, he wants to change the world’s perception of people that are neurodiverse, showing that someone with autism can participate in sport and be a successful endurance athlete, no matter what their background.
‘Sam sees his autism as both an advantage and a strength when training and competing. He’s incredibly focused and isn’t easily distracted, he also finds that the sport improves his confidence and self-esteem.’
Coronavirus caused all of Sam’s planned events to be cancelled this year, however he is currently training for the following triathlon races in 2021 (Marbella 70.3, Hamburg 140.6 and Cork 140.6) with the objective of competing at Kona in October later that year.
Sam’s main goal is to become the first athlete with autism to complete the IRONMAN World Championships and to be the first athlete with autism to become a professional triathlete.
As part of Sam’s training, he’s focused on running a sub 3 hours and 20 minutes marathon and swimming 3.8km in 60 minutes, but Sam’s commitment to the sport does not end here. He would like to visit special needs schools to educate them about the benefits of sport for improving their students’ health and wellbeing and encouraging as many people as possible, like him, to participate in triathlons and other endurance sports.
Sam Holness said, “I want to show that people with autism can participate in sport. In fact, autism is a strength, and athletes from any background can be great triathletes. All you need to do is get out there and get active. Don’t let your disability be a reason for not doing sport.”
