Karen Smyers

Karen Smyers (born September 1, 1961 in Corry, Pennsylvania) is a triathlete from the United States, who won the inaugural women's triathlon at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata (1995). She grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in an athletic family of eight children. She joined her older siblings on the town swim team at age eight.

Smyers swam competitively at Wethersfield High School and was named All-State. After graduation Smyers entered Princeton University and swam on the Princeton team, which won the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Conference Division I Eastern Championships three of the four years she was on the team. She has credited swimming with giving her the aerobic capacity and competitive drive that propelled her to success in the triathlon.

After graduating from Princeton in 1983 with a degree in economics, Smyers was looking for a sport in which she could nurture her drive to compete. Her former roommate was planning to enter a triathlon, so the two trained together. Smyers entered her first triathlon in 1984, although her only bicycle was the one she used to ride to work at a computer consulting firm.

Known for being an Ironman World Champion, Karen is also known for overcoming her setbacks.
* A bike accident leaving her with a broken collarbone.
* A collision with an 18-wheeler truck leaving her with broken ribs and a bruised lung
* An accident with a broken window that severed her hamstring
* Being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and surviving
* Suffering a miscarriage and still being able to compete in the world championships three weeks later

Other Accomplishments

* 1994 USOC Triathlete of the Year
* 1995 USOC Triathlete of the Year
* 1996 USOC Triathlete of the Year
* 1999 USOC Triathlete of the Year

* 2001 US Elite National Champion

* 2004 Timberman Half Champion

* 2005 Ironman USA Lake Placid - 4th place
* 2005 Eagleman Half Ironman - 4th place