PHS graduate hoping for Olympic triathlon gold
By: Justin Feil
In Andy Potts’ dreams, he’s on top of the podium in Athens, collecting the gold medal in the men’s triathlon.
If Potts goes beyond it, he can see the parade down Nassau Street that would be the first to welcome an Olympic gold medalist from Princeton since Lesley Bush captured a diving gold in 1964.
"If I win a medal," Potts said, "I’ll take a parade wherever I can get one. If Princeton has one, I’ll be there."
Potts admits that it’s been a long time since he even visited Princeton, yet it’s listed as home to the current Colorado resident who qualified as the second American for the triathlon contingent after coming in 11th overall at the 2004 World Championships.
"I just consider myself a Jersey boy at heart," Potts said. "When I was little, my parents moved around a ton. When we moved to Princeton, we made my parents promise us we wouldn’t move. Up until fifth grade, we made 12 moves. From then until I graduated, that’s the longest I lived in one place. It’s where I got my education and had my first athletic success. I still have a lot of friends there.
"I haven’t been back in a while," he added. "I kind of live vicariously through our team mechanic, who goes back there. I share the inside of Princeton, where to go and eat and go out."
Since Potts left Princeton upon graduation from Princeton High School, he’s seen the ups and downs of an athlete’s life. He had a stellar swimming career in his first four years at Michigan, competed on the track for his fifth year with the Wolverines. In 1996, he was fourth in the 400 individual medley, just missing a trip to the Olympics.
He’s found his way onto the Olympic team in another sport, the triathlon, which he took up two years ago after falling out of shape in the corporate world. It’s the kind of riches-to-rags-to-riches story that’s attracted interest from everywhere to get all the details.
"In one aspect, it’s been really nice to have the attention and have the sport get the attention," Potts said from his Colorado home. "Every four years, it starts to get in the limelight. If you have a good story that plays out, there’s a chance to get your name and what I think is a great sport out there.
"It has been a bit overwhelming, trying to juggle everything from media requests and sponsor requests to overall preparation for the games. I can see why people want to get their space. I actually enjoy it. It is new for me. It’s kind of like I’m a fresh face in the sporting world."
Potts wouldn’t mind serving as inspiration for a future Princeton Olympian. It’s where he first start dreaming of the Olympics. Now that he’s there, he’s on the flip side.
"I kind of found my heroes through the Games," he said. "For me to be someone else’s hero, it’s unique. If I can inspire someone else, that’d be great."
Plenty of people in Princeton would say they saw greatness in Potts, but it was as a swimmer first. Swimming is just one component of the Olympic triathlon that includes a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run. He swam just as a freshman at PHS, but before heading to Michigan he owned three state records as a member of the Eastern Express club team coached by Todd Kemmerling.
"Part of the human interest story about it is it’s been eight years between Olympic Trials for me," Potts said. "I had to change to a new sport, and reinvent myself as a new athlete and individual. I had to go through some trying times as far as what to do with my talents and my life. That experience for me, it’s been what life is about. You have to find what you want to do. That’s been the whole process that makes a compelling story."
The story will get even better if Potts can medal in the men’s triathlon that takes place 10 a.m. Aug. 26.
"I close my eyes at night, and I dream of success," Potts said. "Who doesn’t dream of standing on top of the podium? I just try to train to make it a reality."
Potts wouldn’t have been considered in the running for a medal, but his progress from beginner to elite has been incredible. As he’s grown more accustomed to the triathlon lifestyle, he’s found more and more success.
"The framework, the weekly frame of my workout schedule, has remained the same pretty much," he said. "I’ve been able to develop a lot of consistency though. What has changed is my confidence in what I’m capable of doing on a daily basis. I know I can recover from a very hard workout and do another good workout the next day. It means I can do my workouts and be popping in a great workout here and there and eliminating the bad workouts. Since I made the team, I have newfound self-confidence.
"I’ve raised the bar with my cycling and running. I always knew I could swim. Now I get a chance to show everybody what work I’ve been able to put in. My rate of improvement is still staying the same. In that aspect, it’s kept the whole sport new and exciting and fresh for me. There’s always something to improve upon. My rate of improvement though is still on an upward slope. I’m still improving on the bike, run and even the swim. I’m starting to benefit from week after week, month after month of quality work. My body is responding positively."
Potts will compete over an Athens course that is similar to some that he’s competed on to make the Olympic team.
"I think there are about 15 guys out there in the world who have a chance to stand on top of the podium," Potts said. "I put myself as one of those 15 guys. I’m preparing to, not matter how the race pans out, to be able to take advantage of it and be successful. That means preparing for a breakaway on the swim, holding on on the bike and running for it. Or if there’s one pack on the bike and then a run for it, I’m ready for it. I’m trying to maximize any way the race plays out, I’ll be in the race."
Potts is still one of the least experienced competitors in the field, but he’s not fazed by that fact. With each race, he’s improved.
"I think you need a certain amount of experience," Potts said. "If you’re not put in that situation before, you won’t know how to react. I do have limited race experience, but the experiences I’ve had, I’ve taken everything away from them. I don’t think my lack of race experience will be a detriment."
If everything goes his way, he’ll be the one that is standing at the top of the podium with gold medal draped around his neck. Potts has the confidence that his dream can happen.
"I feel like I have a great shot of standing on the podium," Potts said. "I think I have a lot to show people. I’m done proving myself. The Olympics gives me an opportunity to celebrate my training without a lot of pressure to perform."
It could just mean a parade down Nassau Street, something that Potts is dreaming of as he goes through his final days of preparation for the Olympic triathlon