Published March 23, 2011 02:06PM
Sneak Peek: Inside Triathlon's Look Into The Life Of Matt Chrabot
The March/April issue of Inside Triathlon magazine features a story on Olympic hopeful Matt Chrabot, who recently won the Miami International Triathlon for a second time. Check out a sneak peek of the article, available on newsstands now.
The March/April issue of Inside Triathlon magazine features a story on Olympic hopeful Matt Chrabot, who recently won the Miami International Triathlon for a second time. Below, check out a sneak peek of the article, available on newsstands now.
Written by: Courtney Baird
Olympic hopeful Matt Chrabot (pronounced shär-bòt) has a skill in his back pocket that is coveted by many but which cannot be taught: He can handle variables—huge ocean swells, blistering temperatures, freezing rain and anything else that can disrupt an athlete’s focus and wreak havoc on results.
Part of the reason why Chrabot was the fastest American at the ITU World Championship Grand Final in Budapest, Hungary, last year was it poured before the race began and the streets were filled with potholes. Many athletes crashed, lost focus or cramped up in the cold. Olympian Jarrod Shoemaker, who was ranked ahead of Chrabot going into Budapest and who was a contender for the podium, finished 51st, later telling Inside Triathlon that he simply succumbed to the rain.
Chrabot placed 16th, earning him a final world ranking of 12th, 39 spots better than where he landed in 2009, and the highest slot for an American in 2010.
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“Matt just thrives on [variables],” his long-time coach, Melissa Mantak, said. “He reminds me of what I’ve read and know about Lance Armstrong. The greater the adversity, the better he did. I’m reminded of when we were in Miami for the Miami [International] Triathlon in March [of 2010]. We got out of the car and it was dark and cold and the wind was howling. The first thing Matt said was, ‘I love the wind.’”
Chrabot went on to win the race, beating Chris Lieto, Olympian Matt Reed and two-time Olympic medalist Bevan Docherty in the process.
To read more about Matt Chrabot, pick up the March/April issue of Inside Triathlon magazine, on newsstands now.
Click here to view a gallery of Chrabot at the Inside Triathlon photo shoot.
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[sig:CourtneyBaird]