More than 200 triathletes descended upon John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for the City Bikes Key Largo Triathlon on Aug. 16. Featuring an Olympics and sprint distance triathlon and duathlon, the event also brought an Olympic distance aquabike race.
There were also displays of camaraderie among disabled athletes and crewmembers with Coast Guard Station Islamorada. Joining in the competition were 10 duo teams, composed of a Coast Guard member and a disabled athlete. The teams competed in the Special Compass sprint solo and relay with a buddy.
Special Compass is a nonprofit serving people with disabilities, and Jim Sayih, founder and CEO, said the collaboration originated following last year’s triathlon with one of the swimmers. Turns out it was Coast Guard Station Islamorada Commander Christopher Rantuccio’s girlfriend.
“Jim and I connected shortly afterward and talked about Special Compass, their mission, and ways our crew might be able to get involved. From that initial conversation, the partnership grew pretty naturally,” Rantuccio said. “When I mentioned the opportunity to my crew about support for their athletes at the Key Largo Triathlon, our members were eager to participate.”
Sayih said six Coast Guard Station Islamorada members volunteered by towing their buddies through the race.
“This powerful community engagement effort fostered new friendships, respect and inclusion,” Sayih said.
Rantuccio said what impressed him most was how readily the crew embraced it.
“Some of our members served as Power Buddies and completed the sprint triathlon alongside Special Compass athletes, towing and pushing adaptive equipment throughout the course. Others volunteered behind the scenes with packet pickup, race-day logistics, and preparing and supporting the adaptive bikes and carts. It truly became a team effort,” he said.
Rantuccio added the collaboration says a lot about the people who serve at Station Islamorada.
“Our crew spends every day serving the Upper Keys in a professional capacity, but they also genuinely care about being part of this community,” he said. “They volunteered their own time, took on physically demanding roles, and did whatever was needed to give these athletes the opportunity to compete.
“For me, that is service at its best. It wasn’t about the Coast Guard being at the event; it was about our members showing up for people in their community and helping make something possible that might not otherwise have been. I was extremely proud of the way they represented Station Islamorada and the Coast Guard, and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with Special Compass,” Rantuccio added.
More information about the triathlon is at gameonraceevents.com. More information on Special Compass is at specialcompass.org.
The race was organized by Game On! Race Events.
