USA Triathlon has announced Olympic speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno as a keynote speaker for the second annual Endurance Exchange. The virtual endurance sports industry conference will be hosted by USA Triathlon on January 21-23, 2021.
The inaugural Endurance Exchange was held in January 2020 in Tempe, Arizona, drawing more than 600 attendees including coaches, race directors, brands and retailers, triathlon clubs, media outlets and other members of the multisport industry.
‘The 2021 edition will be held virtually to offer greater flexibility, reduce costs and eliminate the need for constituents to travel in order to attend. All content will be recorded, and attendees will be able to view sessions live or on-demand – offering options to accommodate any schedule.’
Apolo Ohno to present keynote
Ohno is the most decorated US Winter Olympian of all time, winning two gold medals and eight medals overall in short track speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake 2002, Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. He is a 12-time world champion and 12-time world championship medallist. Ohno is also an accomplished triathlete, having completed the 2014 IRONMAN Word Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in 9 hours, 52 minutes, 27 seconds.
Ohno has become a cross-industry entrepreneur – a successful sports broadcaster and television personality, a New York Times best-selling author, and a lifelong scholar inside and outside the university setting.
He will speak about his background and path to the Olympics, training for and finishing IRONMAN Kona in under 10 hours, and his unique ‘Gold Medal Mindset’ to unlocking performance, overcoming adversity and excelling in any climate.
“The endurance community has given me inspiration, strength and life lessons that I still carry with me today,” Ohno said. “As we all adapt, and pivot in sport, I am excited to be a part of this community and event that will touch on mindset, reinvention and how best to carve paths forward. I am grateful and excited to spend time with members of this diverse community.”
Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO, said “Apolo Ohno created instant speed skating fandom during his illustrious Olympic career, with a talent and personality that captivated audiences in America and around the world.
“We are thrilled to offer this chance for the multisport community to connect with Apolo at Endurance Exchange, hear him recount his Olympic and triathlon stories, and learn about his approach to achieving personal growth and success.”
Ohno’s keynote is scheduled for Friday, January 22, from 17:00-18:00 ET. He will also speak as part of a virtual USA Triathlon Foundation VIP event following the keynote session on Friday evening. Interested attendees can bid on the session, which will be reserved for a limited number of participants, via the USA Triathlon Foundation Silent Auction surrounding Endurance Exchange.
‘Athlete Insider Pricing’
USA Triathlon is offering a new, athlete-focused ‘Athlete Insider Access’ pricing option, for US$50 through November 16. This is a discount on the All-Access pricing of US$175.
The Athlete Insider track includes all keynote presentations, general sessions, guided virtual morning workouts and the virtual expo.
‘In addition, a special Athlete Insider content track will offer more than 15 hours of content focused on the inner workings of USA Triathlon — including the high-performance pipeline; Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games outlook; USA Triathlon competitive rules and officiating updates; and a deep dive into the Team USA experience, from training and qualifying to traveling and racing at World Championships.’
“The virtual format of the 2021 Endurance Exchange enables us to reach the entire multisport community more broadly than ever before,” said Brian D’Amico, USA Triathlon Director of Events. “We wanted to take that opportunity to offer increased athlete-focused content for everyone from beginners to competitive amateurs to elites.
“The Athlete Insider track will offer a behind-the-scenes look into USA Triathlon with the opportunity to ask questions of staff and leadership, as well as the chance to glean expert insights from leading coaches and race directors. We are thrilled to have the chance to connect with our members in a new way, and we encourage anyone who is passionate about multisport to join us.”
Mike Reilly to emcee
Best known as the ‘Voice of IRONMAN’, Mike Reilly will reprise his role as Endurance Exchange emcee for keynotes and general sessions. Through nearly 40 years of service, Reilly has become the world’s most famous endurance sports announcer. He has called the finishes of more than 160 IRONMAN triathlons, 1,200 races and more than 2 million athletes. He is a member of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame and the IRONMAN Hall of Fame.
USA Triathlon membership discount for attendees
As part of registration for Endurance Exchange, all attendees will have access to a discounted US$35 USA Triathlon Annual Membership or renewal (extension of 12 months from current expiration date) — a US$15 discount from regular membership pricing. Individuals who have already registered for Endurance Exchange can still claim the US$35 membership; visit enduranceexchange.com for instructions.
Price increase on November 16
Registration prices for Endurance Exchange will increase on November 16. General Attendee All-Access will increase to US$200, Medical Professional All-Access to US$225 and Athlete Insider Access to US$65.
More information about Endurance Exchange, including additional keynote speakers and emcees, general sessions and breakout content, will be released in the coming weeks.
