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Darren Smith
Age: 45
Paralympic Triathlete |
Palmares:
2011
*Echo Red to Red MTB race - 12th
2010
ITU World Championships, Budapest, Hungary – 10th Apple Triathlon,
Canadian National Championships - 1st (qualified for World Championships, 2011)
XTERRA Canada National Championships, Whistler BC – 1st (Qualified for World Championships, 2010)
XTERRA NW Regional Champion
XTERRA Portland - 1st
XTERRA Vashon Island - 1st
XTERRA Solstice - 1st
* Beaver Freezer Triathlon - 5th
*(Also raced Short Track MTB and PIR during the summer, cyclocross during the winter, results usually in the top 50%)
2009
XTERRA NW Regional Champion
XTERRA USA Nationals - 4th (Qualified for World Championships, 2009)
XTERRA Portland - 1st
Apple Triathlon, Canadian Championships - 1st (Qualified for World Championships, 2010)
XTERRA Vashon Island - 1st
XTERRA Las Vegas, West Cup - 1st
*Beaver Freezer Triathlon - 3rd
*Oregon State Time Trial Championships, 2009, 40km, 10th
*Oregon State Track Championships – 2009, Kilo, 12th
2008
*Ironman Canada - Finisher
Apple Triathlon, Canadian Triathlon Championships - 1st (qualified for World Championships, 2009)
*Mid Summer Triathlon - 8th
ITU World Championships, Vancouver BC – 5th
2007
*Lake Stevens Half Ironman – finisher
2006
*Ironman Florida – finisher
2004, 2005
San Diego Triathlon Challenge – finisher
2002
(11/1/02 date of injury, all these races were before that date)
(All of these results are no longer available)
*Jack Frost TT, 20k
*Estacada TT, 16k
*Duck Bill Chill Sprint Tri
*Lebanon Sprint Tri
*Blue Lake Sprint Tri
2001
*Denotes able-bodied event. All others had Physically Challenged Division
1999
*Mt Hood Mountain Bike Series, 5 races, 3-1st place, 2-2nd place, Overall series winner
About Me:
I’m not in a wheelchair but I’m a challenged athlete. I’m not missing any of my limbs, but I’m a challenged athlete. I don’t need crutches or canes to walk, but I’m a challenged athlete. When I’m riding my bike, you can’t tell I’m a challenged athlete. I have completed Ironman twice as a challenged athlete, the first one 4 years after I was told I would not do another triathlon again. I have twice represented my country at the ITU World Triathlon Championships as a challenged athlete.
I started my athletic career as a hockey player when I was 5. I played a little football and rugby in high school and college. Then I discovered mountain biking and began racing in 1994. When I moved to Oregon, I raced in the 1999 Mt Hood series and won the Clydesdale division. In 2002, I decided to give triathlon a go when I discovered most of the races offered a Clydesdale division. I did 5 sprint races during that summer and fell in love. That was also the year I had a stroke during a surgical procedure. My life has changed substantially since November 1, 2002. I have done things I would have never done had this not happened to me: San Diego Triathlon Challenge (half iron distance) 2004, 2005, Ironman Florida 2006, Ironman Canada 2008, ITU World Championships 2008, 2010, XTERRA Regional Champion 2009, 2010, and I’m far from done. In 2011, my goal is to again represent Canada but this time in Paracycling.
I often describe myself as a triathlete in a hockey player’s body because I am definitely not the size of a typical triathlete at 6’2” and 225lb. I think I will fit in better as a track racer. One of my Canadian track idols, Curt Harnett, found the track as a way to stay in shape for hockey. He happened to be very good at bike racing, winning silver and two bronze Olympic medals. He was 6’0” and 210lb. Marty Nothstein is another Olympic medal winner and big man at 6’1 ½”, 210lb. Track racing seems to be more accommodating to guys my size. In the next several months, I am going to be training hard, going fast, and taking nothing but left hand turns, in hopes of fulfilling my next goal: London 2012.
2011
*Echo Red to Red MTB race - 12th
2010
ITU World Championships, Budapest, Hungary – 10th Apple Triathlon,
Canadian National Championships - 1st (qualified for World Championships, 2011)
XTERRA Canada National Championships, Whistler BC – 1st (Qualified for World Championships, 2010)
XTERRA NW Regional Champion
XTERRA Portland - 1st
XTERRA Vashon Island - 1st
XTERRA Solstice - 1st
* Beaver Freezer Triathlon - 5th
*(Also raced Short Track MTB and PIR during the summer, cyclocross during the winter, results usually in the top 50%)
2009
XTERRA NW Regional Champion
XTERRA USA Nationals - 4th (Qualified for World Championships, 2009)
XTERRA Portland - 1st
Apple Triathlon, Canadian Championships - 1st (Qualified for World Championships, 2010)
XTERRA Vashon Island - 1st
XTERRA Las Vegas, West Cup - 1st
*Beaver Freezer Triathlon - 3rd
*Oregon State Time Trial Championships, 2009, 40km, 10th
*Oregon State Track Championships – 2009, Kilo, 12th
2008
*Ironman Canada - Finisher
Apple Triathlon, Canadian Triathlon Championships - 1st (qualified for World Championships, 2009)
*Mid Summer Triathlon - 8th
ITU World Championships, Vancouver BC – 5th
2007
*Lake Stevens Half Ironman – finisher
2006
*Ironman Florida – finisher
2004, 2005
San Diego Triathlon Challenge – finisher
2002
(11/1/02 date of injury, all these races were before that date)
(All of these results are no longer available)
*Jack Frost TT, 20k
*Estacada TT, 16k
*Duck Bill Chill Sprint Tri
*Lebanon Sprint Tri
*Blue Lake Sprint Tri
2001
*Denotes able-bodied event. All others had Physically Challenged Division
1999
*Mt Hood Mountain Bike Series, 5 races, 3-1st place, 2-2nd place, Overall series winner
About Me:
I’m not in a wheelchair but I’m a challenged athlete. I’m not missing any of my limbs, but I’m a challenged athlete. I don’t need crutches or canes to walk, but I’m a challenged athlete. When I’m riding my bike, you can’t tell I’m a challenged athlete. I have completed Ironman twice as a challenged athlete, the first one 4 years after I was told I would not do another triathlon again. I have twice represented my country at the ITU World Triathlon Championships as a challenged athlete.
I started my athletic career as a hockey player when I was 5. I played a little football and rugby in high school and college. Then I discovered mountain biking and began racing in 1994. When I moved to Oregon, I raced in the 1999 Mt Hood series and won the Clydesdale division. In 2002, I decided to give triathlon a go when I discovered most of the races offered a Clydesdale division. I did 5 sprint races during that summer and fell in love. That was also the year I had a stroke during a surgical procedure. My life has changed substantially since November 1, 2002. I have done things I would have never done had this not happened to me: San Diego Triathlon Challenge (half iron distance) 2004, 2005, Ironman Florida 2006, Ironman Canada 2008, ITU World Championships 2008, 2010, XTERRA Regional Champion 2009, 2010, and I’m far from done. In 2011, my goal is to again represent Canada but this time in Paracycling.
I often describe myself as a triathlete in a hockey player’s body because I am definitely not the size of a typical triathlete at 6’2” and 225lb. I think I will fit in better as a track racer. One of my Canadian track idols, Curt Harnett, found the track as a way to stay in shape for hockey. He happened to be very good at bike racing, winning silver and two bronze Olympic medals. He was 6’0” and 210lb. Marty Nothstein is another Olympic medal winner and big man at 6’1 ½”, 210lb. Track racing seems to be more accommodating to guys my size. In the next several months, I am going to be training hard, going fast, and taking nothing but left hand turns, in hopes of fulfilling my next goal: London 2012.
