Children’s Hospital Tri My Best Triathlon
- beyondthewhistle
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1
On Sunday, September 14th, members of the St. Louis community gathered at Washington University to support the Children’s Hospital’s annual Tri My Best triathlon. Since its founding in 2015, this event has aimed to provide children with movement disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy and challenges that come with a triathlon. Each year, around 60-80 athletes train to swim, bike, and run the course. By providing different distances for each lap of the race, athletes can modify the race to their mobility level while still challenging and pushing them beyond their comfort zones. More than just an athletic contest, Tri My Best brings together a community of athletes and their families who deserve the chance to celebrate their athletic accomplishments.
When I showed up at 8:30am Sunday morning, the event was already full of energy and underway! After heading to the volunteer table, I learned that dozens of volunteers showed up at 6:30am to set everything up. This event would not have been possible without the many people willing to dedicate their time and energy to a smooth series of events. As I waited for the first heat to start, I explored what else the event had to offer–The entire morning a DJ booth blasted upbeat music, a face painting booth entertained families, and various organizations set up tents around the blacktop. Among these tents were The Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA), Recreation Council of St. Louis, Best Buddies, and Children's Hospital. I had the opportunity to talk to some of the volunteers at these tables and they all provided information about how to get involved in similar events. For more information on these tables, please visit the individual websites using the links on the bottom of the page.
The race included five heats, starting at 8:30am and beginning at every half hour. Athletes began in the pool where they raced anywhere from 50-200 meters. Kids were aided by lifeguards and cheered on by spectators above in the stands! After the swimming portion, athletes headed to the bike station where they were suited up with helmets to begin the cycling portion. Biking took place around the quadrangle of Wash-U. Along the path, different groups of people held signs, pom-poms, bubbles, and more! Shoutout to the Webster Boys Soccer Team, Nerinx Spirit Club, Priory Football, Girl Scouts troop 1289, BJC connections group, and more who cheered on athletes the entire morning!! The energy was infectious and helped motivate the athletes. Finally, after completing anywhere from 0.5 to 2 miles, athletes got off their bikes and prepared for the 0.15-0.6 mile run/walk/wheel chair push. I loved being able to witness the emotion that athletes and their families had when they viewed the finish line archway in the distance. Once crossing the finish line, athletes received a personal medal and got their picture taken. Although the day was hot and sweaty, these factors didn’t deter the hundreds of smiles I watched!
As someone who has now attended the event for four years, I can confidently say that it has been one of my favorite sporting events to watch. The energy from parents, volunteers, and spectators in combination with the joy athletes feel for accomplishing such a physical feat makes this event so special. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping to support other athletes in the community to check out the Tri My Best Triathlon next year! If you are looking for other ways to get involved with similar organizations please explore these links below!
St Louis Children's Hospital–Tri Mi Best: https://support.stlouischildrens.org/site/TR?fr_id=1370&pg=entry
Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA):
Recreation Council of St. Louis:
Best Buddies:
By: Lilly Tourville ‘26
Edited by: Kate Logsdon ‘26
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