Determined Bronx Grandmother and Paratriathlete Readies for Third New York City Triathlon

Evelyn Rodriguez, a resident of Parkchester, will compete in the 18th annual 2XU New York City Triathlon on Sunday. Born without part of her left arm, Rodriguez has defied odds and will be racing in the Challenged Athletes' women's triathlon.

Rodriguez's life has been transformed by her involvement in triathlons. Six years ago, she joined a support group for adults with disabilities and discovered sports, which began to improve her self-image. The bullying she experienced at school and being denied the opportunity to participate in gym classes left her with a negative self-image. However, her participation in triathlons has significantly improved her self-confidence and made her more self-assured.

Rodriguez's self-consciousness about her arm has decreased significantly, enabling her to participate in activities like swimming and riding a bike. She learned to swim at Rye Beach in Westchester County and learned to ride a road-racing bike with the help of a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation and a prosthetic arm designed for the task.

Rodriguez is a member of the Tri Achilles Team, a group of adults with disabilities. Through the support group, she met people who were racing in triathlons with Tri Achilles. Rodriguez regularly trains in Central Park and Hudson River Park with her Tri Achilles teammates and others she's met through Challenged Athletes.

Rodriguez will be responsible for the 10K run and 40K bike race portions of the event. She will participate in the triathlon as part of a relay tandem, with her teammate handling the 1,500-meter swim in the Hudson River. Rodriguez expressed her disbelief at competing in the triathlon, stating, "I still can't believe I'm doing this."

In her daily life, Rodriguez works as an executive assistant at Columbia University. She recently became a grandmother. Despite her busy schedule, Rodriguez makes time for training and competing in triathlons.

Unfortunately, there is no information available about the organisation to which Rodriguez attributes her recent triathlon successes. However, her determination and perseverance are clear for all to see. Rodriguez's story serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

Determined Bronx Grandmother and Paratriathlete Readies for Third New York City Triathlon