NYC Schools Chancellor Signs On As Honorary Member Of High School Triathlon Team

The city’s first public school triathlon team has a new, high-profile, athlete.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott — a fitness enthusiast who placed third in his age group at his first triathlon in August — has signed on as an honorary member of the team at Queens Metropolitan High School in Forest Hills as a way to encourage the kids.

“For me, it’s all about challenging myself,” said Walcott, 61, who plans to compete alongside the teen athletes from the Metropolitan Knights at the New York City Triathlon in August. “I think it’s great these kids are getting into triathlons.”

The 61 year-old school leader, who wakes up early four time a week to jog, bike or swim, dropped in on about a dozen Knights and their coaches at a benefit they held at a Queens pizza parlor Thursday night to raise money for triathlon gear.

The Chancellor talked with the kids about the benefits of exercise, his favorite bicycles and which parts of races are most difficult – for Walcott, it’s swimming.

Read more: Nydailynews.com