COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon will host its first media teleconference ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. MT). The call will feature Summer Rappaport, the first triathlete to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team, and John Farra, High Performance General Manager at USA Triathlon.
Rappaport (Thornton, Colo.) will share her personal background, reflect on her standout 2019 season and discuss preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Farra (Heber City, Utah) will outline the qualifying process for the remainder of the U.S. triathlon team and discuss his outlook for individual and team performances in Tokyo.
Rappaport became the first triathlete to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team when she finished fifth at the Tokyo ITU World Olympic Qualification Event on Aug. 14. She also earned three podiums in 2019 ITU World Triathlon Series (WTS) races and finished fifth in the season-long WTS standings. Rappaport has a total of four career WTS medals and 13 ITU Triathlon World Cup medals, and she has been a part of two U.S. podium finishes in ITU World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series events.
A former NCAA Division I swimmer and cross country runner at Villanova University, Rappaport was introduced to triathlon through USA Triathlon’s Collegiate Recruitment Program (CRP), which identifies single-sport collegiate runners and swimmers who have the potential to excel as elite triathletes. Gwen Jorgensen, the 2016 U.S. Olympic gold medalist, and Katie Zaferes, the 2019 ITU Triathlon world champion and 2016 U.S. Olympian, were also introduced to triathlon through the CRP.
Farra is responsible for leading U.S. triathlon National Team programs, overseeing the Olympic and Paralympic pipelines and directing strategic planning for USA Triathlon’s High Performance Department. He is a 1992 U.S. Olympian in cross-country skiing. Prior to joining USA Triathlon in May of 2018, Farra held roles at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the High Performance Director for U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing and at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) as the Nordic Program Director.
WHAT
USA Triathlon-hosted media teleconference ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
WHO
Summer Rappaport (Thornton, Colo.), 2020 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team Qualifier
John Farra (Heber City, Utah), High Performance General Manager, USA Triathlon
WHEN
Thursday, Dec. 5 — 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT
ACCESS
Media members may register for the call by clicking here. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with dial-in instructions. There is no deadline to register.
Media who are unable to join will have access to recorded and transcribed versions of the call.
USA TRIATHLON CONTACT
Caryn Maconi, Communications Manager
caryn.maconi@usatriathlon.org | 719-955-2828
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
