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Andy Potts
- 2004 U.S. Olympian in triathlon (first out of the water, finished 22nd)
- Was 11th at the 2004 Triathlon World Championships; was 18th in 2005
- Broke into the ITU Top 100 in 2003 as a rookie; entered the top 10 at season's end in 2005
- Finished second in the 2006 Escape from Alcatraz triathlon; was third in 2005
- Won his first World Cup event in Edmonton in July of 2005
- In 2003 his first year of elite/profession racing, earned two top-10 finishes at ITU World Cup
- Was a member of the USA Swimming National Team from 1995-97; captain of the University of Michigan swim team in 1998-99
- Finished fourth at the 1996 Olympic Trials for swimming in the 400m IM (behind the eventual Olympic gold and silver medalists, Tom Dolan and Eric Namesnik)
- Earned a bronze medal in the 400m IM at the 1995 World University Games
- After his swimming eligibility ran out, walked onto the Michigan track team, competing in distance running 1999-2000
- Married Lisa Simes, an acrobat for Cirque du Soleil's 'O' show. The two met at Michigan, where Lisa was a gymnast
- His favorite books are “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand and “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway
- His favorite movies are “Bravehart” and “The Usual Suspects”
- Earned his BA in English and a Secondary Teaching Certificate
Andy's wife, Lisa, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the fall of 2004. Her battle against the disease has inspired Potts in his racing. She remains his top supporter and leader of Team Potts. At the the 2005 Lifetime Fitness race in Minnesota, Andy started to chase down the pack after Lisa had yelled to him that he was in seventh place (when he was really in 13th or 14th place). Andy told the Detroit Free Press, "I passed like four, five guys and thought, `I'm in second!' " Andy Potts said with a laugh. "When actually, I was seventh _ and she knew it all along. But what she did was great because I won $7,000 for taking seventh _ the best payday of my career."
IRelated Links
Personal Website: andypottstri.com
Tips: Andy Potts offers tips on transitions
Q&A: Andy Potts talks about racing equipment, superstitions and preparation
Related Articles: Dreaming big
"I competed in swimming for 17 years and the lessons that I learned carry over to triathlon. I know what hard work means and what it takes to excel…getting to the Olympics has always been a dream, but now it has become my number one goal. All I have do is look at the Olympic rings. I am ready to go for almost every workout. I also have the benefit of being brand new to the sport. Everything is new for me and it's exciting."
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Height: 6'2"
Born: 28-Dec-76
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
Resides: Colorado Springs, CO
Sport: Triathlon
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