Road to 2016 World Championships

If the 9-year-old Nathan Nowak first embarking on athletics could see where he was today, there’s no way he would believe how he got here, but I’d sure love to sit him down and watch his eyes light up as I told him his story.

A quiet, thoughtful kid, 9-year-old Nathan was so introverted that his magnetism toward physical expression was dampened by the overwhelming reality of team sports. So it made perfect sense that he would gravitate toward Tae Kwon Do, an individual sport in a team setting where focus and dedication fueled his commitment, strengthened his aptitude, and empowered him to plumb his own depths to find inner resources in face of outer adversity.

His childhood dream was to compete in the Olympics, and he trained hard for many, many years as he worked closer and closer toward his goal. In 2004, Nathan earned his first opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Tae Kwon Do team. His first fight in the team trials qualifiers was a success, but his dream collapsed when he tore his left ACL and meniscus in his second fight. Undeterred, he tried to continue through the pain, but he completely lost his stability and was unable to move. And just like that, in a single moment, all those years of training and sacrifice were over. His dream of becoming an Olympian was abruptly halted.

But Nathan would come back, rehabilitate his knee, and return to training--this time, with a vengeance. He turned his personal recovery time into an added opportunity to teach and coach others, and he created a championship women’s Tae Kwon Do team whose members he coached to multiple accolades as he himself regained his fighting prowess. Just as he began to find his dream of high-level competition within reach again, he suffered another devastating blow, tearing his right ACL and meniscus and fracturing his tibia in competition. His sports doctor pronounced Nathan retired from Tae Kwon Do competition. For good.

Faced a second time with a broken dream, Nathan did not allow his spirit to follow. Even knowing he would never fight again, he dedicated himself fully to rehabbing his knee and getting strong again. And, in so doing, a world-class triathlete was born.

I'm raising money for the 2016 ITU Duathlon World Championships in Aviles, Spain. The money raised will go for travel, hotels and food during the event and training expenses leading up to the competition.

World Championships are June 4-5th 2016. Team USA is asking for entry fees and reservations for the hotel asap then airfare is next on the list.

As a Tae Kwon Do athlete I had pursued my dream of making the Olympic team. Representing Team USA is a big honor. Since retiring from TKD I wasn’t sure making Team USA would even be a possibility.  Competing in triathlons and duathlons has given me a chance to qualify for the World Championships. This is my shot at representing the United States. This is my Olympics.