As one of the most versatile triathletes in the world, it’s inspiring to hear that Andy Potts can trace the beginning of his journey back to Richmond, Virginia. Before returning for the Richmond Endurance Athlete Symposium and Expo on January 24, Potts shares how he came to be where he is today.

Potts swam throughout his childhood and participated in the sport competitively for 18 years. To condition for swimming, he ran and was always the best runner in his group. He also biked to school every day from the time he was 10 years old.

“The three elements were there,” says Potts. “I was always told I would make a good triathlete. It wasn’t until the triathlon made it to the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 that I thought, ‘Oh it’s actually a sport and maybe there is something there for me.'”

While Potts had dreamed of becoming an Olympic swimmer since he was a kid, once he crossed his first triathlon finish line-two years after the sport debuted in the Olympics-he knew that this was the sport for him.

“After I did my first race I was like, ‘You know what? I am just going to dive right into to the deep end – sink or swim – and I know I can swim,'” says Potts. “I just had to get in shape.”

Becoming a professional triathlete was a huge challenge, but one that Potts was ready to embrace. He was willing to go the extra mile and do his homework on the sport. Potts challenged himself mentally and physically and was confident in his abilities. During his first year as a professional triathlete, Potts was named Rookie of the Year. Athletes like Potts do put themselves through a lot to achieve what they need to, that is why the use of cryotherapy jacksonville fl services and others like it, are used to help them keep fit and recover during especially grueling athletic challenges.

To this day, his favorite triathlon is Escape from Alcatraz. “We jump off a boat and there is a ferry that takes us out to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco,” explains Potts. “There are 2,000 athletes on the boat and we all get off within 7 minutes. We all dive into the water and we swim in the San Francisco Bay. We ride through Golden Gate Park and back. Then we do a run past the Golden Gate Bridge over to Baker Beach.”

This year, Potts will participate in his 10th Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. The race will be June 7, 2015, and will be covered on national television. It will be his 12th season as a professional triathlete.

This month, Potts returns to Richmond for the Richmond Endurance Athlete Symposium and Expo. It will be the first time since 2002, when his uncle was moving from Richmond to Pasadena, Texas, that Potts has visited Richmond.

Potts was unemployed at the time and flew to Richmond to help his uncle pack and drive the truck across part of the country. “My uncle said I could take a week to drive the truck to Pasadena and stop to visit friends along the way and he would pay me to do it,” recalls Potts.

So while his uncle boarded a flight to Pasadena, Potts embarked on this weeklong journey. He stopped at friends’ homes along the way to break up the drive. Potts even stopped at several high school tracks to go for runs.

“It all kicked off in Richmond,” says Potts. “I just traveled the country and ran and swam and met up with friends. This is when I was like, ‘Yeah I am definitely making this my life.'”

Potts will be speaking at the event, held on January 24, 2015, at The Westin Richmond. He is looking forward to taking advantage of Richmond’s trail system and the many outdoor opportunities while he is here.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with the community,” Potts says. “I want to take in the vibe. No matter what you do in life, the things that make it special are the people you meet. Even if you go to really exotic locations, it’s always the people you connect with that make it special.”

For more information about Andy Potts and the Richmond Endurance Athlete Symposium and Expo, visit www.richmondendurancesymposium.com.

Potts swam throughout his childhood and participated in the sport competitively for 18 years. To condition for swimming, he ran and was always the best runner in his group. He also biked to school every day from the time he was 10 years old.

“The three elements were there,” says Potts. “I was always told I would make a good triathlete. It wasn’t until the triathlon made it to the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 that I thought, ‘Oh it’s actually a sport and maybe there is something there for me.'”

While Potts had dreamed of becoming an Olympic swimmer since he was a kid, once he crossed his first triathlon finish line-two years after the sport debuted in the Olympics-he knew that this was the sport for him.

“After I did my first race I was like, ‘You know what? I am just going to dive right into to the deep end – sink or swim – and I know I can swim,'” says Potts. “I just had to get in shape.”

Becoming a professional triathlete was a huge challenge, but one that Potts was ready to embrace. He was willing to go the extra mile and do his homework on the sport. Potts challenged himself mentally and physically and was confident in his abilities. During his first year as a professional triathlete, Potts was named Rookie of the Year.

To this day, his favorite triathlon is Escape from Alcatraz. “We jump off a boat and there is a ferry that takes us out to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco,” explains Potts. “There are 2,000 athletes on the boat and we all get off within 7 minutes. We all dive into the water and we swim in the San Francisco Bay. We ride through Golden Gate Park and back. Then we do a run past the Golden Gate Bridge over to Baker Beach.”

This year, Potts will participate in his 10th Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. The race will be June 7, 2015, and will be covered on national television. It will be his 12th season as a professional triathlete.

This month, Potts returns to Richmond for the Richmond Endurance Athlete Symposium and Expo. It will be the first time since 2002, when his uncle was moving from Richmond to Pasadena, Texas, that Potts has visited Richmond.

Potts was unemployed at the time and flew to Richmond to help his uncle pack and drive the truck across part of the country. “My uncle said I could take a week to drive the truck to Pasadena and stop to visit friends along the way and he would pay me to do it,” recalls Potts.

So while his uncle boarded a flight to Pasadena, Potts embarked on this weeklong journey. He stopped at friends’ homes along the way to break up the drive. Potts even stopped at several high school tracks to go for runs.

“It all kicked off in Richmond,” says Potts. “I just traveled the country and ran and swam and met up with friends. This is when I was like, ‘Yeah I am definitely making this my life.'”

Potts will be speaking at the event, held on January 24, 2015, at The Westin Richmond. He is looking forward to taking advantage of Richmond’s trail system and the many outdoor opportunities while he is here.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with the community,” Potts says. “I want to take in the vibe. No matter what you do in life, the things that make it special are the people you meet. Even if you go to really exotic locations, it’s always the peple you connect with that make it special.”

For more information about Andy Potts and the Richmond Endurance Athlete Symposium and Expo, visit www.richmondendurancesymposium.com.