Speaker 1: Paul Gompers, member of the board of trustees for USA Triathlon Federation will say a few words about the Federation and their mission and then a few things USA triathlon is doing towards inclusiveness and diversity. ------------------------------------------------------------ Speaker 2: Sue Reynolds, Author of The Athlete Inside: The Transforming Power of Hope, Tenacity, and Faith. At 335 pounds, Sue Reynolds couldn’t walk a block, fit in a restaurant booth, or even tie her own shoes. After failing one diet after another, she tried to lose weight one more time, but this time she had a secret daydream - to finish a triathlon. That secret daydream gave purpose to her dieting and exercise, and she lost 200 pounds, finished her first triathlon (dead last), and fell in love with swim, bike and run. Along the way, she discovered an athlete and competitive spirit had been hiding inside her morbidly obese body. Three years after completing her first triathlon in last place, Sue finished sixth in the world (and first American) at the World Triathlon Championship! She conquered fear and pride to find that the best version of herself had been there all along. Sue embodies a spirit of hope and a belief that we all have the power to transform our lives and the world around us. Outside of triathlon, Sue founded the American Student Achievement Institute, a non-profit organization that helps community leadership teams implement change for the purpose of helping young people, especially disadvantaged young people, succeed in life. She has received numerous state and national awards for her work in systemic change involving schools and communities