Mason is ‘Triathlon Strong’

In the spirit of Down Syndrome Awareness Month we are highlighting the accomplishments of one of our TEAM kids. Meet Mason, a dedicated athlete with a never-give-up spirit. He completed his first triathlon when he was just 8 years old. In addition to Mason’s success as a triathlete, his physical therapist, Eric Pate, and speech therapist, Mandy Walters, have also seen him make tremendous gains towards his therapy goals along the way.

YES, he CAN!

While both Mason’s parents have competed in triathlons, the path for Mason becoming a triathlete with Down syndrome was unchartered territory for the family. When they learned that Bentonville Public Schools Special Education Department was partnering with Trifest for MS to provide opportunities for differently abled athletes like Mason, they were intrigued. It didn’t take long to decide that giving Mason a chance to compete would be worth it.

His TEAM

While it is ultimately up to Mason to have enough motivation and grit to compete, his journey to becoming a triathlete has been a team effort. His training crew has included his coaches, Coach Adam, and Ms. Donna, his speed swim coach. Mason’s parents help him prepare for his race events as well.

In the most recent race season, Mason’s buddy, Karen, practiced with him and completed races by his side. Mason shares that when he is really tired, Karen keeps him going. Mason’s parents cheer from the sidelines on race day.

The Finish Line

Mason has already logged 6 races and looks forward to the next one.  While Mason is a fish in the water, he admits that running is his greatest challenge. Because triathlons always finish with the running leg of the race, and sometimes it is really hot on race day, Mason has to muster a lot of determination. To do this, he keeps his focus on his favorite part of the race… crossing the finish line!