San Diego, CA, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and USA Triathlon today announced a multi-year partnership to strengthen the development pathway for emerging paratriathletes with physical disabilities.
The collaboration is part of a broader CAF initiative with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) designed to address a gap in athlete development. Many promising athletes have advanced beyond local adaptive sports opportunities but may not yet qualify for national team funding or comprehensive NGB support.
Paratriathlon can be especially expensive because athletes must train and compete across three disciplines. Depending on their classification, athletes may need racing wheelchairs, handcycles, adaptive bicycles, running prosthetics, and other specialized equipment, as well as coaching and travel for competitions.
Through the partnership, CAF and USA Triathlon will provide grant funding, athlete development opportunities, and greater access to sport-specific expertise. The organizations will also collaborate on talent identification, development camps, athlete education, and storytelling to help more people discover and progress in paratriathlon. CAF will support USA Triathlon with $25,000 annually from 2026 through 2028. During the first year, the organizations aim to support approximately 10 to 15 emerging paratriathletes, host two development camps, and help offset costs associated with equipment, training, and competition.
“CAF has a long history in triathlon and has seen how access to the right equipment, coaching, and community can change an athlete’s trajectory,” said Bob Babbbit, and a USA Triathlon Hall of Famer and co-founder of CAF. “This partnership with USA Triathlon will allow us to reach more emerging athletes and provide the support they need to continue developing toward elite competition, LA28, and future Paralympic Games.”
CAF-supported athlete Carson Clough is one example of an athlete who progressed through the paratriathlon development pathway and demonstrates what can happen when an athlete receives the resources and opportunities needed to progress. After losing his right leg above the knee following a boating accident, the former collegiate lacrosse player found paratriathlon and rose to the sport’s highest level, winning a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Owen Cravens is another example of CAF’s impact on the paratriathlon pathway. Diagnosed with Stargardt disease as a child, Cravens was introduced to triathlon through CAF before progressing to international competition. He represented Team USA at Paris 2024, finishing fourth in the visually impaired PTVI B3 category.
“We are proud to partner with Challenged Athletes Foundation to expand access to paratriathlon and strengthen development opportunities for athletes with disabilities,” said Krista Prescott, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at USA Triathlon. “By combining CAF’s experience supporting athletes with physical disabilities with USA Triathlon’s sport-specific expertise, we can help more athletes find their place in the sport and provide promising competitors with a clearer path forward.”
This collaboration is one of several partnerships CAF has formed with leading sport organizations to strengthen the Paralympic athlete development pipeline. Each partnership addresses the distinct barriers within its sport while creating long-term opportunities that extend beyond a single Paralympic Games.
Athletes interested in learning more about paratriathlon can visit usatriathlon.org. Information about CAF grants, programs and support for athletes with physical disabilities is available at challengedathletes.org.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors, as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
About Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) stands as a global leader in empowering individuals with physical disabilities to embrace vibrant, active lives. CAF firmly believes that engaging in physical activity fosters self-esteem, encourages independence, and enriches quality of life. For more than three transformative decades, CAF has been at the forefront of the adaptive sports movement, catalyzing change and redefining possibilities. Since its inception in 1994, CAF has raised over $200 million and fulfilled nearly 60,000 funding requests from people with physical disabilities across all 50 states and more than 70 countries, impacting another 60,000 individuals annually through its outreach efforts. From providing essential equipment like handcycles to offering mentorship and encouragement, CAF’s mission is clear: to provide opportunities and support to those who aspire to lead active, athletic lifestyles. To learn more, please visit www.challengedathletes.org.
Attachment
