American Rick Hoyt, the severely disabled athlete who formed the ‘Team Hoyt’ team with his father Dick Hoyt and became world famous as a result, has died at the age of 61.
Team Hoyt became world famous because father and son together completed thousands of endurance events, including many triathlons. Father Dick – who passed away in 2021 – pushed and pulled his son in the process, both in the water, on the bike and during the run. The team was considered pioneers within the world of para-sport. The team, which raced for more than three decades, was also iconic for the fact that anything is possible as long as you believe in it yourself.
Rick Hoyt was born with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia (the paralysis of all four limbs, ed.). In 1977, Rick competed in his first event at the age of fifteen. This was followed by more than a thousand triathlons, marathons and other running events.
