Kris Swarthout Named 2012 Age Group Team USA Coach

Minneapolis-native Kris Swarthout has been chosen to lead U.S. age group athletes at the world championship in Auckland, New Zealand.

See the complete announcement from USA Triathlon below:

USA Triathlon announced today that Kris Swarthout of Minneapolis, Minn., has been selected as the Team USA coach for age group athletes competing at the 2012 ITU World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Swarthout will lead approximately 500 of the nation’s top age-groupers as they represent the United States in sprint-distance and Olympic-distance triathlon and aquathlon world championship races Oct. 17-22. He was chosen for the position by a USA Triathlon selection panel following a comprehensive application process.

Swarthout brings experience to the role, as he also served as the Team USA coach for the 2010 ITU World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He is a USA Triathlon Level II coach and creates training programs for more than 200 athletes at all levels. Swarthout also serves as a Level III Staff Coach at OptumHealth Performance and is the team coach of the Minnesota Junior Elite Team and the St. Olaf College Triathlon Team.

“I am extremely honored to have been chosen for this position. The profession of coaching is a passion for me, and a vital part of our sport. As a previous member of Team USA in 2005 as an athlete and in 2010 as a coach, I have a good working knowledge of what the athlete needs from a support and preparation standpoint. I have some new tricks up my sleeve for 2012 and pledge to do my best to help each and every athlete arrive in Auckland in top form,” Swarthout said.

As Team USA coach, Swarthout will serve as the key resource for U.S. age-groupers in the lead up to Worlds and on site during race week. He will provide a monthly training tip for publication in the Team USA newsletter and will pre-record webinars for Team USA athletes on topics such as training, the race course and traveling internationally.

In Auckland, Swarthout will organize and lead Team USA group rides, runs, swims and transition practices in the lead up to race day.

USA Triathlon’s Team USA is comprised of top age-groupers who represent the United States at each ITU World Championships event. For information please visit TeamUSATriathlon.org.