Courtesy of Team WinterSeventh-grader Winter Vinecki has a year-round pass from her gym class at Judson Middle School in Salem, Ore. But not to worry, this blonde whip of a triathlete is moving with purpose, with a drive and intensity beyond her 12 years. One that actually brings her into school gym classes across the country on a regular basis.
In 2010 and again this year, she'll make the most out of her role as the IronKids ambassador by speaking about triathlons in schools within the cities of events she's racing. This year, Vinecki has about 15 of a possible 24 IronKids events on her race calendar, and she'll defend her title as the 2010 IronKids national champion.
Though the sport of triathlon is growing, especially among youth, the majority of Vinecki's audience is learning about triathlon for the first time.
During each school presentation, Vinecki informs, encourages and inspires young athletes while sharing the two passions of her heart -- triathlons, and finding a cure for prostrate cancer. At age 9, Vinecki lost her father to an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He was diagnosed on his 40th birthday and died before reaching 41. She formed Team Winter in honor of her dad Michael, also a triathlete.
She grabs students' attention immediately by zipping into school gyms riding her custom youth-size triathlon bike.
"The kids were screaming and hollering when I rode in on my bike," Vinecki said of a past school visit. "I felt like a movie star!"
“I don't believe in no or can't.
” -- Winter Vinecki
Vinecki uses that momentum to fuel her mission to stomp out cancer. "On my dad's headstone we put, 'Cancer, we will chase you to the end of the earth and stomp you out like you stomped my dad out,'" said Vinecki. Now, she refers to her bike as a "cancer-chasing machine."
Vinecki's life as an athlete and speaker keeps her moving. With her on-the-go schedule, most parents assume she's homeschooled, said Vinecki's mother, Dr. Dawn Estelle. Some assert that Vinecki's too young or that triathlon is too dangerous for kids.
"I can list many sports that are more dangerous than triathlon," Vinecki said.
When you've lost your father, life, and its opportunities, appear differently. For Vinecki, it's not about insisting on competing in a sport with risk, but instead not waiting to try something because it's risky. Life is short.
"If someone tells me triathlon is too dangerous, I say, 'I may not be here tomorrow, so I'm not going to wait,'" she said. "My dad waited to do many things he wanted to do and now he's not here. He didn't get a chance to do those things."
Overall, Vinecki treasures her chances to live life, chase speed and inspire others. So while her classmates are busy playing basketball, football and soccer in gym class, Vinecki uses her extra hour per day to work on homework (she has a 4.0 GPA) and projects related to Team Winter.
Vinecki's schedule might be atypical for her age, but it comes down to perspective, priorities and passion. And somehow, she's still a kid. During our Skype interview, Vinecki brushed and played with her mother's long blonde hair and giggled as her younger brother maneuvered a homemade rabbit puppet in front of the web cam.
Life, after all, is fun. Let's make the most of it!
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Like many adult first-time triathletes, the future crop of youth triathletes wonders:
• Equipment? Others are intimidated by the equipment and want to know what gear is required for a first triathlon? Keep it simple, Vinecki suggests. There's a ton of gear and hi-tech equipment you can add in the future, but it's all optional.
• Too slow? Athletes of all ages fear finishing last. "It doesn't matter how fast or slow you are," Vinecki said. "It's about getting active and most of all having fun! Just crossing the finish line is a huge accomplishment. Most of the time the last finisher even gets the biggest crowd of people cheering! That's what I love about triathlons. Everyone is there to cheer on that last finisher."
Sara Cox Landolt, mom of three, GOTRIbal contributor, a certified USA Triathlon Level 1 Coach and Ironmakeover author.
