University of Tennessee Athletics
Former Vol Swimmer Competes in Ironman Competition
October 13, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 13, 2009
DREW RUTHERFORD
UTsports.com
What started out as a way to get into shape ended up driving former University of Tennessee swimmer Don Bosch to compete last Saturday in the Ford Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The Super Bowl of triathlons puts athletes from all over the globe through one of the most grueling tests of endurance in all of sports.
The three components of the triathlon are a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride followed by a 26.2-mile run. While thousands of athletes vie for a spot in the Ironman Championships, only 1,800 are selected to compete each year.
But Bosch's involvement began by simply running some road races.
"A couple of years ago I made a commitment to get fit again," Bosch said. "I didn't have any specific athletic goals in mind but then I got into a little better shape."
Once the former Vol tanker started, his athletic drive seemed to catch fire. Bosch began training for triathlons in a familiar setting--with the UT swimming and diving team.
"Coach Trembley has been very good to me," Bosch said. "I swim in the mornings with `JT' (John Trembley) and then do the open-water swims with the team on Friday afternoons."
When the swimmers get finished with the open-water swim, they run back for a quick shower and resume their Friday schedules. Meanwhile, Bosch slides into his running shoes to get a few miles in before dark.
"Training with the team has been one of the most rewarding things about this whole process," Bosch said. "I have gotten to know most of these guys and it has been a really great experience."
It's almost as if he was on the team again. Bosch earned his Tennessee varsity letter swimming for legendary head coach Ray Bussard in 1982.
"The good thing is that JT doesn't have a scholarship to revoke if I mess up," Bosch said. "Swimming is a different sport now and I think the athletes are stronger and smarter. But as much as some things have changed there are a few things that are the same, and that has really stirred up some old memories."
"The unbelievable thing about UT swimming is the continuity that it brings. The fact that I am 25-years older than most of the guys on the team means nothing to them. We are one big family. Once you are a part of this family you will always be a part of this family."
After all the work with the swim team, Bosch headed to Hawaii for the competition. Saturday 6:45 a.m. -- the 2009 Ford Ironman Championship began and there was no turning back. Bosch's first Ironman competition was underway and the months of training have paid off.
Bosch crossed the finish line in 13:36.45. In his inaugural Ironman event, Bosch made the Big Orange proud, finishing 150th in his division and 1,381st overall.
But Bosch is not the first Vol to compete in this contest. The Tennessee tradition in the Ironman Championships is strong, as former swimmer Lars Jorgensen still holds the record for the swimming portion of the event with a 46:41 mark set in 1998.
