Sue Reynolds

At 335 pounds, Sue Reynolds' couldn't walk a block, fit in a restaurant booth, or even tie her own shoes. After failing one diet after another, she tried to lose weight one more time, but this time she had a secret daydream - to finish a triathlon. That secret daydream gave purpose to her dieting and exercise, and she lost 200 pounds, finished her first triathlon (dead last), and fell in love with swim, bike and run. Along the way, she discovered an athlete and competitive spirit had been hiding inside her morbidly obese body. Three years after completing her first triathlon in last place, Sue finished sixth in the world (and first American) at the World Triathlon Championship! Sue embodies a spirit of hope and a belief that we all have the power to transform our lives and the world around us. Outside of triathlon, Sue founded the American Student Achievement Institute, a non-profit organization that helps community leadership teams implement change for the purpose of helping young people, especially disadvantaged young people, succeed in life. She has received numerous state and national awards for her work in systemic change involving schools and communities. Sue is the author of The Athlete Inside: The Transforming Power of Hope, Tenacity, and Faith. Sue hopes the book will inspire others to begin their own journeys - whatever those journeys may be. Sue also provides motivational speeches for associations, corporations, athletic, education, and faith-based events across the country.