USA Triathlon has confirmed 2004 US Olympian and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic guide Andy Potts as the new coach of the Paratriathlon Resident Team. The Paratriathlon Resident Team trains in a high-performance environment at the Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“USA Triathlon is thrilled to welcome Andy Potts as the new coach of our Paratriathlon Resident Team,” said Scott Schnitzspahn, USA Triathlon High Performance General Manager.
“Andy brings an extraordinary wealth of experience as an Olympian, 70.3 world champion, coach, and long-time leader in the triathlon community. His proven commitment to excellence and his passion for coaching athletes to achieve their best make him the ideal leader for this program.”
Lindsey Jerdonek, USA Triathlon Paralympic Program Senior Manager, added “We are confident that under his guidance, the Resident Team will continue to build on its impressive legacy of success as we prepare for the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.”
Andy Potts said “Coaching the USA Triathlon Paratriathlon Resident Team is an incredible honour and an opportunity I’m truly excited about as I transition from racing to giving back to the sport that has given me so much.
“I’m looking forward to helping these talented athletes grow, not just as competitors, but as people, by sharing the lessons I’ve learned throughout my career – the victories, the setbacks, and everything in between. Working with paratriathletes, each with unique stories and backgrounds, is a humbling and inspiring experience. I can’t wait to help them push boundaries, break barriers, and achieve their dreams.”
Founded in 2018 to serve as the first supported, daily training environment for the best paratriathletes in the United States, the Paratriathlon Resident Team has produced several World Para Series podiums, World Championship podiums, and Paralympic Games medals under the direction of Coach Derick Williamson (2018-2024).
Potts now takes over the Paratriathlon Resident Team that includes elite and development paratriathletes, including Paris 2024 Paralympian Emelia Perry (PTWC); 2016 and 2020 Paralympic swimmer McClain Hermes (PTVI); US paratriathlon national champion Skyler Fisher (PTWC) and two emerging athletes, Aaron Kamnetz (PTWC) and Lucas Jundt (PTS3). Additional paratriathletes may be added in the future.
Resident Team athletes won three medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: gold for Allysa Seely (PTS2) and Kendall Gretsch (PTWC), and silver for Hailey Danz (PTS2). The team built on that success last summer, earning four medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: gold for Danz (PTS2), silver for Gretsch (PTWC), silver for Mohamed Lahna (PTS2), and bronze for Mark Barr (PTS2), representing half of the record eight medals won by the US Paralympic Triathlon Team, the best for any country in paratriathlon at a single Paralympic Games.
