The USA Triathlon Foundation has announced that 2004 US Olympian and decorated long course triathlete Andy Potts will serve as a professional athlete ambassador to the foundation for the 2021 season and beyond.
In his role as an ambassador, Potts will focus on raising awareness for the mission of the USA Triathlon Foundation, which is to transform lives through sport by opening pathways for all to swim, bike and run.
Through event appearances, donor stewardship, social media engagement and other outreach activities, Potts will help expand recognition and support for the foundation throughout the multisport community.
“I love our sport, our triathlon family and all of the opportunities it creates for people,” Potts said. “The benefits of daily exercise, community and friendship that triathlon creates can lead to lifelong lessons and memories.
“For my entire career, my goal has been to provide accessibility to our sport for all types of people, and I am so excited to partner with the USA Triathlon Foundation to continue that mission with them.”
David Deschenes, USA Triathlon Foundation Executive Director, said “The USA Triathlon Foundation is honoured to have Andy Potts as an ambassador, and we look forward to working with him in 2021 to transform lives through sport.
“Andy’s dedication and passion for triathlon, combined with his enthusiasm for giving back to the sport through coaching and philanthropy, make him a perfect fit for this role. We can’t wait to reintroduce Andy to our community in a whole new way, and we know he will inspire others to give back in the process.”
Andy Potts was an NCAA Division I swimmer at the University of Michigan and placed fourth at the 1996 US Olympic Swimming Trials in the 400m individual medley. He began racing triathlon competitively after college as a short-course, draft-legal specialist on the International Triathlon Union (now World Triathlon) circuit.
He represented Team USA in triathlon at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and three years later won gold at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. He was named Athlete of the Year four times by USA Triathlon.
Potts gravitated to long course racing after the Olympics and has since become one of the United States’ most decorated professional triathletes, with 30 IRONMAN 70.3 wins and eight IRONMAN wins to his name. Potts won the 2007 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and placed fourth at the 2014 and 2015 IRONMAN World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He is also a USA Triathlon Certified Coach and founder of Andy Potts Racing.
In addition to his personal racing pursuits, Potts has also served as a sighted guide for Kyle Coon, a visually impaired US elite paratriathlete and hopeful for this summer’s Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Potts plans to attend the Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, set for August 6-7 in Milwaukee, where he will take part in a USA Triathlon Foundation Meet & Greet with donors. He will also attend a 2021 USA Triathlon Foundation Fantasy Camp and the foundation’s annual gala.
Potts will also promote the foundation with branding on his professional race uniform and appearances in marketing and communications appeals for various foundation initiatives throughout the year.
In addition to Potts, the USA Triathlon Foundation also works with three elite athletes as captains of the USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador Team powered by Newton Running:
- 2016 US Olympian Joe Maloy;
- 2016 US Paralympic gold medallist Grace Norman; and
- Elite development paratriathlete Michael Smith.
www.usatriathlonfoundation.org
