More than US$180,000 was raised to support the USA Triathlon Foundation at the 2023 USA Triathlon Foundation Gala and Hall of Fame Induction. The event was attended by more than 430 people on August 3, 2023 at Discovery World in Milwaukee.
Special guests included 2000 Olympic Silver Medallist and 2006 Ironman World Champion Michellie Jones; USA Triathlon Project Podium athletes Sullivan Middaugh and Reese Vannerson; and Team Thrive athlete Abigail Adams.
Mike Reilly, announcer and member of USA Triathlon’s Hall of Fame and IRONMAN Hall of Fame, served as the Master of Ceremonies. More than 35 top athletes were recognized as winners of USA Triathlon’s annual Multisport Awards and Athlete of the Year Awards, presented by Wahoo Fitness.
The evening culminated with the formal induction and celebration of the 12th induction class of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame, the 12 finishers of the original Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon, which include:
• Gordon Haller
• John Dunbar
• Dave Orlowski
• Ian Emberson
• Sterling Lewis
• Tom Knoll
• Henry Forrest Jr
• Frank Day
• John Collins
• Archie Hapai
• Dan Hendrickson
• Harold Irving
Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO, said “As we look toward the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic games, you will hear our rallying cry of ‘Ignite the Spark’ throughout our communications and marketing.
“This year is about celebrating all who ignite the spark in our multisport community, and I cannot think of 12 individuals who represent the collective spirit of triathlon more than the extraordinary individuals we are here to honour.
“These trailblazers made a lasting impact on the triathlon community, playing a pivotal role in shaping long course racing to what it has become today. Their indomitable spirit pushed the boundaries of human potential, and their success continues to inspire countless others to dream big and conquer the impossible.”
All proceeds from the 2023 USA Triathlon Foundation Gala and Hall of Fame Induction benefit the USA Triathlon Foundation, which is the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. The USA Triathlon Foundation supports the multisport community through charitable givebacks and grants that advance its three pillars: encourage youth participation; inspire adaptive athletes and ignite Olympic & Paralympic dreams.
Another highlight of the annual fundraiser was a silent auction featuring a variety of rare memorabilia from Olympic and Paralympic history, state-of-the-art triathlon gear, and access to special experiences.
The opportunity to bid on the bike that propelled Olympian Katie Zaferes to win two medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games catapulted the auction’s fundraising total to nearly US$50,000. Other popular items included registration to a 2024 USA Triathlon Foundation Training Camp; race entries to the highly sought-after 2024 DATEV Challenge Roth; and experience packages hosted by USA Triathlon Project Podium’s coach and development athletes, as well as the US Paratriathlon Resident Team.
USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Inductees by Class
Class XII (induction ceremony held Aug. 3, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wis.)
Original 12 Ironman Finishers:
John Collins (Age Group Athlete)
Frank Day (Age Group Athlete)
John Dunbar (Age Group Athlete)
Ian Emberson (Age Group Athlete)
Henry Forrest (Age Group Athlete)
Gordon Haller (Age Group Athlete)
Archie Hapai (Age Group Athlete)
Dan Hendrickson (Age Group Athlete)
Harold Irving (Age Group Athlete)
Tom Knoll (Age Group Athlete)
Sterling Lewis (Age Group Athlete)
Dave Orlowski (Age Group Athlete)
Class XI (induction ceremony held Aug. 4, 2022, in Milwaukee, Wis.)
Laura Bennett (Elite Athlete)
Lesley Cens-McDowell (Age Group Athlete)
Gwen Jorgensen (Elite Athlete)
Robert Plant (Age Group Athlete)
Class X (induction ceremony held Jan. 25, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz.)
Cherie Gruenfeld (Contributor)
Dick and Rick Hoyt (Age-Group Athletes)
Mike Plant (Contributor)
Class IX (Induction ceremony held Aug. 9, 2018, in Cleveland, Ohio)
Hunter Kemper (Elite Athlete)
Mike Reilly (Contributor)
Donna Smyers (Age-Group Athlete)
James Ward (Age-Group Athlete)
Class VIII (Induction ceremony held Jan. 16, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Harriet Anderson (Age-Group Athlete)
Roger Brockenbrough (Age-Group Athlete)
Ken Glah (Elite Athlete)
Siri Lindley (Elite Athlete)
Class VII (Induction ceremony held April 18, 2015, in Boston)
Bill Bell (Age-Group Athlete)
Tim DeBoom (Elite Athlete)
Dan Empfield (Contributor)
Karen McKeachie (Age-Group Athlete)
Carlos Moleda (Age-Group Athlete)
Susan Williams (Elite Athlete)
Class VI (Induction ceremony held June 26, 2014, in Chicago)
Sister Madonna Buder (Age-Group Athlete)
John and Judy Collins (Contributors)
Mike Pigg (Elite Athlete)
Tom Warren (Contributor)
Class V (Induction ceremony held April 18, 2013, in San Diego)
Missy LeStrange (Age-Group Athlete)
Jim MacLaren (Contributor)
Julie Moss (Contributor)
Class IV (Induction ceremony held May 10, 2012, in San Diego)
Mark Allen (Elite Athlete)
Ethel Autorino (Age-Group Athlete)
Bob Babbitt (Contributor)
Sally Edwards (Contributor)
Scott Molina (Elite Athlete)
Scott Tinley (Elite Athlete)
Class III (Induction ceremony held Jan. 15, 2011, in Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Susan Bradley-Cox (Age-Group Athlete)
Dave McGillivray (Contributor)
Dave Scott (Elite Athlete)
Class II (Induction ceremony held Feb. 13, 2010, in Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Jim Curl (Contributor)
Barb Lindquist (Elite Athlete)
Paula Newby-Fraser (Elite Athlete)
Valerie Silk (Contributor)
Carl Thomas (Contributor)
Class I (Induction ceremony held Jan. 17, 2009, in Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Judy Flannery (Age-Group Athlete)
Jon Gray Noll (Contributor)
Verne Scott (Contributor)
Karen Smyers (Elite Athlete)
Sheila Taormina (Elite Athlete)
www.usatriathlonfoundation.org
www.usatriathlon.org
