PATRICK DOAK
The Hawaii Ironman Triathlon seems to draw out the deepest hidden grit in us all. There is Julie Moss crawling to the line in 1982 and Paula Newby-Frasier collapsing with just a quarter-mile to the finish in 1995. Who can forget John McLean becoming the first wheel chair athlete to finish the Ironman? The sport has provided many examples of people who ably display the drive to keep going ... the willingness to see what is on the other side.
Handcycle athlete Patrick Doak eats sleeps and breathes this attitude. He knows no boundaries, recognizes no limits.
At the tender age of 10, Patrick was injured in a shooting accident. The result was a bone fragment from his spinal column traumatizing his spinal cord, which left him partially paralyzed."It is not such a bad gig," laughs Doak. "The odds of me earning a slot to the Hawaii Ironman in Kona as a handcyclist are a thousand times better than that of an able-bodied athlete."
At first that might sound cold and dry, but to know Doak you must first look beyond the chair, the impeccable manners and southern charm and embrace his sarcasm and intensity.
"As you get acquainted with Patrick, you find (painstakingly) there is a sarcasm that runs through his veins as naturally as blood," shares his wife Jennifer. "He can say just about anything in a tone that's believable and fools so many of us more times than we like to admit." After 11 years of racing and four Ironman Triathlons under his belt, Doak is a seasoned veteran with a valuable message to share: make no excuses, make the commitment and respect your sport. In return you find the true essence of being an Ironman.
CARLOS MOLEDA
Carlos Moleda grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. At age 18, he chose a life of adventure, moved to the United States and joined the Navy. His ability to work hard and learn fast eventually won him a coveted spot as a Navy SEAL.
A few years later, he found himself in the middle of an intense firefight in Panama. Nine of the 10 men in his unit were wounded - four fatally. Carlos was hit near his spine and leg, and lost feeling in his lower body forever. Competitive sports proved to be the best way to recover from this traumatic injury. Through an unyielding spirit and a passion for competition, Carlos turned his misfortune into his greatest adventure: becoming a champion.
Today, Carlos is a winner of the 367-mile Sadlers Ultra Challenge handcycle race in Alaska, a two-time National Handcycling Champion and a four-time Hawaii Ironman Champion. Carlos appreciates how far he's come. To help others, he serves as a spokesman for the Challenged Athletes Foundation and uses his expertise and motivational skills to teach younger kids with disabilities how to ride racing wheelchairs and handcycles.
He is married to Sarah Preston Moleda and has a son, Spencer. He is an amazing man, a fine American and when you're with him you can't help but realize that there are few people on this Earth who stand as tall as Carlos Moleda.
ANDREW CHAFER
Andrew is a native Australian and will be the support rider for the team. He is an accomplished triathlete with 9 Ironman Triathlons, 20 Half Ironman and numerous marathons under his belt.
"Andrew is a full time landscaper and probably one of the hardest training guy I know. Up at 5 am for swim workouts and back on the road for a bike or running workout, the same day, after a full day of labor intensive work, unbelievable. When the time came to select someone to be the support rider, there was no doubt in my mind, Andrew was the guy".
In his own words, "When I am training or racing and don't feel very motivated, I think about some of the CAF athletes I've met, what they have to deal with and it helps me keep going
