CAMPUSPEAK

Trish Downing established herself as a competitive cyclist from 1997-2000, facing challenges with enthusiasm and zeal.

Her professional life was immersed with sports, too, as she earned a master’s degree in Sports Management and worked at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. She was the press officer for the USA Table Tennis team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and for the USA Swimming Team at the 1997 World University Games in Italy. In an instant, though, Trish’s life was changed forever.

On September 17, 2000, while training on her bicycle in Golden, CO, Trish was hit head-on by a car. Suffering a chest level spinal cord injury, Trish was paralyzed from the chest down. The once fiercely competitive athlete was left a paraplegic, dependent on a wheelchair. When Trish was released from the hospital four months later, she knew she still had her whole life ahead of her, and she committed to live it to the fullest.

Today, Trish is a world-class physically challenged athlete. She is the second female wheelchair racer (and the first female paraplegic) to complete an Ironman distance triathlon. While her injury changed the means through which she competes, it did not take away her desire to challenge her body and mind toward new achievements in sports and life.

• Keynotes

• Reaching Your Finish Lines

Reaching Your Finish Lines

In this empowering keynote, Trish shares stories of her athletic adventures and the lessons in triumphant spirit that have gotten her across finish lines. The stories she shares are applicable for anyone who strives to succeed despite obstacles in their daily lives. Having made the transition from able-bodied cyclist to a world-class physically challenged athlete, Trish knows the space that lies between fear and achievement.

Students will walk away from Trish’s keynote with tools to aide them in overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. She stresses the importance of relying on a support system that will include mentors, cheerleaders and coaches; and the importance of using power words. Ultimately, these strategies will lead students to develop strong perseverance and above all else, believe that they can achieve the seemingly unachievable.

Trish's Bio

Trish has completed over 50 triathlons from sprint to Ironman distance. She also competes in road racing and duathlon. Her latest accomplishments include placing first at the 2009 Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, MI, and becoming the 2009 Duathlon World Champion in her division.

Trish’s professional life has also been immersed in sports as she earned a master’s degree in Sport Management in 1995 and worked at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. She was the press officer for the USA Table Tennis team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and for the USA Swimming team at the 1997 World University Games in Italy.

Before becoming a professional speaker, she taught high school in the Denver Public Schools. Today, she takes people on their journeys from start to victory, motivating each person to reach his or her own finish line, just as she has reached hers.

Receiving many sports accolades including the 2003 Inspiration and the 2005 Triathlon Awards from the Sportswomen of Colorado, the 2006 Most Inspirational Athlete from the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the 2008 Courage Award from the Tempe Sports Authority, Trish has truly excelled despite her injury.

In addition to her current sports pursuits, Trish is working on a master’s degree in Disability Studies through Regis University in Denver, CO and working with the University of Colorado, Boulder Disability Services Department to develop a leadership program for students with disabilities. She is also the director for Camp Discovery, a camp for women in wheelchairs who want to explore fitness opportunities as well as create a support system of other women who have experienced mobility disorders/disabilities.