John Rife
Hometown: Winter Park, FL
College: Furman University
OSB Sport: triathlon

John began swimming in the womb and has never quite felt at home as a ‘land lover’. Relatively klutzy on land, John found solace in the pool and at his finest captained two state championship winning teams for Winter Park High School water polo and swimming.

With a fondness for polyester and notoriety, John landed himself a gig as a collegiate cheerleader for Furman University, his Alma Mater. Graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology, John went on to utilize his academic prowess by pillaging the environment and replacing all that was green and lovely with strip malls and restaurants. He currently works as a commercial real estate developer in Orlando/Winter Park and is always on the lookout for the next unsuspecting acre or two of Floridian flora and fauna with good frontage.

With the superlative aid of Marty Gaal and OSB multisport coaching, John competed in and finished his first triathlon in April of 2005, the International Distance Tri-America event in Clermont. Nothing could stop John from the attainment of the finish line, not even the penguins and polar bears who took up residency around the frigid waters of Lake Mineeola that frosty morning in April. Finishing in 2:45:28 and with all limbs intact, John celebrated his initiation into all the wonder of being a full fledged, medal wearing, triathlete.

Not one to rest on his laurels, John is scheduled to compete in the May 22nd Florida Half Ironman at Disneyworld, Orlando. He figures it is only a ‘Half’ Ironman and as since he must be ‘Half’ out of his mind everything should workout just fine. With no previous personal best to beat, John’s solitary goals is to survive the event so he can be married to the wonderful and talented Miss Kamrin Purser on the 28th of May a mere week later.

Ed: John finished the Florida Half in 5:47.