20 Answers: Sawyer Willingham

Hometown: Simpsonville, S.C. Born in St. Simons Island, G.A.
Education: Mauldin Middle School; will start Mauldin High School in August
Role Model: My Dad and Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker
Hobbies: French horn—other than that, running, biking, swimming, and studying!

1 I spend a lot of time making sure my transition area is set up correctly and then I warm up. I want to get to the race site at least an hour and a half before the race starts, sometimes earlier. This helps me get focused.

2 I’m really excited about going to San Diego [for the USA Triathlon Elite Junior Nationals], but I’m really just taking it one race at the time. It’s hard for me to look that far ahead, but I would love to be on the podium.

3 I love Frisbee golf. I don’t get to play much but it is fun.

4 Paris Mountain, because it really suits my strengths which is a lot of climbing. I love hard climbs, both running and biking. The swim wasn’t very long but the climbing, both on the bike and the run, was awesome.

5 I actually don’t listen to music while I train. It takes away my focus but I like several artists, mostly more upbeat types of music like heavy metal, especially Disturbia.

6 I especially like to bring my seventeen-year-old sister, Molly. She is an inspiration for me and always cheers me on and gets real excited.

7 My favorite energy food is Oatmeal to Go and junk food is definitely the Triple Whopper!

8 Math would have to be my favorite. It’s more exciting than the other classes and I like to figure out the answers.

9 I have never traveled abroad but would like to. Last year I did qualify for the World Aquathlon competition in Australia because I placed first in the nineteen and under for USAT Aquathlon Nationals, but could not go because I was too young. You had to be at least sixteen years old.

10 Has to be the Bulldogs. My Dad went to UGA and I love going to see them play in Athens! I do watch cycling on TV and always look for George Hincapie.