Single Leg Amputee Sets World Record at Intermedix IRONMAN® 70.3 Augusta Race

Augusta, GA (PRWEB) October 12, 2013

Patricia Collins, a U.S. Army Colonel, became the new world-record holder for a female single amputee in an Ironman 70.3 distance triathlon. Collins completed the 2013 Intermedix Ironman 70.3 in Augusta, Ga., in a time of 5:32.41, which topped the previous record set by Amy Palmiero Winters in 2007.

As part of IRONMAN Foundation’s “Your Journey, Your Cause” program, IRONMAN® formed an exclusive partnership with The Scott Rigsby Foundation. Called “Operation IRONFREEDOM,” the Scott Rigsby Foundation enables injured warriors to compete in the event, as well as support warriors and their families as they transition home from service in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). During the honorary pre-race dinner, Collins encouraged the 37 Army and Marine wounded warriors preparing to race, then competed herself as part of Operation IRONFREEDOM.

“People look at me and know what my challenge is. But everyone has a challenge, everyone has a story,” Collins said, after her record-setting race. “The ability to get to the start line is huge, and I believe if you can get yourself there, you're on the road to recovering or achieving. You're already winning your battle.”

Collins, a Rutgers University graduate who served in the military in both Iraq and Afghanistan, severely injured her leg in 2006 after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle. In 2007 she elected to have her injured leg amputated and received a prosthetic leg six weeks later and was back riding a bike two months later. Since then, she has been awarded the 2011 National ParaCycling Champion in the Time Trial and Road Race; the 2012 National and World ParaTriathlon Champion (Sprint Distance); and the 2013 World ParaTriathlon 2nd Place (Sprint Distance).

Collins is the only female amputee serving on active duty in the military. A 22-year veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, she currently is assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, working in the area of communications.

About The Scott Rigsby Foundation
Scott Rigsby set a world record at the IRONMAN World Championship, becoming the first double below-the-knee amputee using prosthetics to finish the event. As if that wasn’t enough to inspire people around the world, Rigsby formed The Scott Rigsby Foundation to support individuals with physical challenges to “Do the Unthinkable” in their own lives.

The Scott Rigsby Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a mission is to inspire, inform and enable individuals with loss of limb or mobility to live a healthy, active lifestyle. To learn more about the Scott Rigsby Foundation or to donate to Operation IRONFREEDOM, please visit http://www.scottrigsbyfoundation.org or contact Scott Johnson, Executive Director of The Scott Rigsby Foundation, at 770-634-9004.

Contact:
Patty Collins
703-975-2575 (cell)
703-695-0367 (office)

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