D’Ann Arthur
Pro Triathlete
Born: 6/22/1987
Height: 5’8’’
Weight: 127 lbs
Personal Records:
Half Marathon: 1:17:39
Running: 10k 35:05; 5k 16:37
Swimming: 1500 open water 22:04
I was born and raised in Bedford, Texas. Though athletics have always been a huge part of my identity, I didn’t find endurance sports until much later. This leads me to believe that I have room to grow as an athlete. I spent the first 18 years of my life as a competitive gymnast at US Gold Gymnastics Academy.
Upon graduation from Covenant Christian Academy, I attended Trinity University where I turned my passion for gymnastics into competing on the diving team. Because of my affinity for fitness I decided to walk onto the cross country team as a sophomore in the fall of 2006.
Even with a limited running background, I quickly became one of the team’s top performers. I realized that endurance sports may be my calling in the athletic world. Though I suffered several stress fractures during 2007-2008 seasons, I was still able to maintain fitness through cross training, winning the 2007 NCAA South Region crown, and in 2008 I was able to help my team place 6th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships. Later that spring, I qualified for and competed at the 2009 NCAA Division III outdoor track and field championships in the 10k.
I graduated from Trinity University in May of 2009 with a B.S. in Biology and Spanish and spent two months backpacking and volunteering in Peru before beginning my studies at UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX that fall. Since then I have shifted my focus to training solely for triathlons and obtained my elite license in May of 2010. That Fall I raced in my first professional race at USAT Elite Nationals in Tuscaloosa, which was a huge learning experience for me as being in a professional ITU style race is completely different than racing as an age group athlete. Since then I have continued to learn what it takes to be competitive at the elite level and I enjoy pushing myself to apply this knowledge in both training and racing so that I can become a better athlete.
My future goals in the sport include becoming a top racer in ITU draft-legal events with a long-term goal of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. I am hard working, determined, and known for my ability to race above expectations when the odds are against me.
I am currently coached by Zane Castro in Austin, Texas, and work with Bobby Patten of Dallas Aquatic Masters for swimming.