Episode #23: The Heart Of A Champion

Written by Cheryl on September 25, 2019. Posted in Femininja Podcast.

Tricia Downing has always had the heart of a champion. As a life-long competitive athlete and competitive cyclist, nothing could stop her competitive spirit and her desire to excel in everything she did. Even when she was faced with her greatest challenge when her life changed forever. On September 17th, 2000, during a routine training ride, she was hit by a car. Tricia went from being a competitive cyclist to a paraplegic requiring a wheelchair for mobility. But that still didn’t stop her.

Following her dreams and fueled by her competitive spirit, Tricia made the transition from able-bodied cyclist to an athlete with a disability, and has continued to excel in sports. She has completed over 100 races, including marathons and triathlons, since her accident. She was the first female paraplegic to complete an Ironman triathlon and qualified for the Hawaii Ironman World Championship twice. Additionally, she was a member of Team USA at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Tricia published her memoir: Cycle of Hope—A Journey from Paralysis to Possibility in June 2010, with the second edition released in January 2017. In August of 2018, she published her first fiction novel Chance for Rain.

Download this episode to hear her inspiring story of strength, grit, heart, and determination.

ahlete, athletics, competetive spirit, competition, courage, empowerment, healing, human dignity, human spirit, paralympian, paralympics, recover, strength

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Episode #23: The Heart Of A Champion

Cheryl Ilov International

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