Melissa Otterbein, Certified USA Triathlon Coach

07/27/2021

First Olympics working for the Olympic movement. Yesterday’s joy: watching the women’s Olympic triathlon (Katie Zaferes Triathlete’s push to bronze! 🙌) and hopping on my bike w/ teammates feeling that much more ready to push myself immediately after. Watching confidence in other women breeds more confident women. Women comprise 48.8% of Olympians at this year’s games. Here’s to changing the field to full representation, including creating systemic change for more underrepresented individuals to have access to the resources needed to pursue sport.

Source: Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/sports/olympics/women-athletes-competition.html

07/20/2021

Feels good to be racing again (719 Ride) especially knowing women will have an 8 day race in the Tour de France (TDF) next year. From 1984-1989, and by multiple women since then, women competed in a 3 week TDF until Amaury Sports Organization (led by Christian Prudhomme, who said “all of the women's races organised by the A*O lose money) chose to ban women. This is progress, but not equity. Thank you to women like Kathryn Bertine who remind us that we must keep STANDing until we reach equity for all.

05/24/2021

Thankful for the opportunity to lead a running workshop for USA Triathlon Certified Coaches, foster a atmosphere through the US Anti-Doping Agency, assisting in managing our awesome volunteers, and supporting our “Sport is a Human Right” campaign at the 2021 Duathlon National Championships in Tuscaloosa, AL.
The recent legislation HB 391 passed by Alabama, and other states that effect the rights of transgender athletes is in stark contrast to USA Triathlon’s values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access.
This bill prohibits transgender youth from participating in Alabama public school sports and prohibits Alabama public schools from participating in, sponsoring, or providing coaching staff for sporting events that allow transgender youth to participate.

While it was challenging to be in a state with a policy like this, I’m grateful for the athletes, leaders, advocates, coaches, race directors, and administrators who are using the spheres of influence to speak up about this.

https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/About/Multisport/DEIA/Sport-is-a-Human-Right

04/26/2021

Thankful for the opportunity to work with Cindy Miller Aron & Paul Gorczynski on developing this commentary on the role of coaches, institutions, and clinicians on addressing athlete mental health. Truly systemic and individual approaches-like so many challenges in this world- are not only possible, but all give us all a way to foster empowering environments.

Mental health, defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community,” is an important ...

04/06/2021

Grateful for the opportunity to share my "why" about swimming (as an athlete and coach) with USA Swimming

This is a little bit about what sport means to me, and why I get excited chills every time I see youth step up to the starting block knowing that these brave moments lead to more confidence with each new starting block of life.

USA Swimming

03/02/2021

Best email to start off ! Grateful for the opportunity to serve as a mentor with the Rise & Tri womxn in triathlon program, ran by Fund Her Tri: https://fundhertri.org/.

10/23/2020

Thank you 719 Ride for this favorite 2020 race event focused on community (shoutout to the neighbors handing out popsicles!). The joy and confidence I’ve developed on two wheels came in part from male allies, females who understand that “your success is my success,” and of course a few favorite badass professional role model idols (Kathryn Bertine) who’ve all helped me develop into the person I am today.
Thank you.
Keep climbing.

10/20/2020

USA Triathlon is hosting a free diversity, equity, inclusion, and access summit called "Together We Thrive: Actions for Change" on Sat. Nov. 7th from 11 AM Eastern-6 PM Eastern. This summit will feature programs, stories, and strategies for fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments in the triathlon and endurance sport community. Feel free to send me a message or email with questions/comments/feedback! Hope you can join! [email protected]

10/18/2020

Proud to join the Journal of Emerging Sport Studies as the Day 1 distinguished speakers for the “Power at Play” digital symposium with International Olympic Committee researchers Paul Gorczynski & Cindy Miller Aron. You can view our presentation, hear my own experiences with mental health, learn about athlete mental health and wellness strategies for coaches, governing bodies, universities, and more here:

Featuring: Melissa Otterbein, Paul Gorczynski, and Cindy Miller Aron. Presentation Title: "The Role of the Coach In Addressing Athlete Mental Health" For ful...

08/14/2020

Don’t think I smile as big as I do when I’m on two wheels. What’s your source of joy?

07/27/2020

Today in the bike shop, I heard a knock on the (non-automatic) door from a person using a wheelchair. On the 30th anniversary of , I’m reminded why it was enacted in the first place-and how far we still have to go. The UN International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport states that physical activity is a human right for all-it’s our job to make sure environments reflect that. Great resource from the Center on Disability at The Public Health Institute on active engagement of people with disabilities in access to physical activity-from policies, programs, to changing the built environment:
http://committoinclusion.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Guidelines-Implementations-Manual-1.pdf

06/26/2020

Happy ! Forever grateful for my high school swim teammate who signed us up for our 1st triathlon at 18. The journey has taken me to being an activist for women’s inclusion in the Tour de France (thanks Kathryn Bertine Emma Pooley et al. for your leadership), coaching new triathletes to fall in love with the sport, qualifying for USAT Age Group National Championships, qualifying for the 70.3 World Championships, endless friendships, joining the Baltimore Area Triathlon Club as a board member, developing a way to release my anxiety and support my mental health, to promote community development, and now to serve as Education Manager at USA Triathlon, where I am committed to keep this sport accessible for all, changing lives and communities, through every swim, bike, and run.
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