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Jason P. Lester

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Jason P. Lester (born 1974, Arizona) Nike endurance athlete | ESPY Award winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability.[1] | Artist | Activist | Author of Running on FAITH | Running & biking 4800 miles across the USA.


Early life

Lester grew up playing baseball and football. When he was twelve years old, he was hit while on his bicycle by a woman driving 70 mph who ran a red light. He was left for dead with 21 broken bones and a collapsed lung. Lester lost the use of his right arm, which became partially paralyzed as a result of the accident. During the next several months he began a lengthy hospital recovery. While he was still in the hospital recovering, his father, and sole guardian, died of a heart attack.[2] Twelve months after the accident, he went on to continue to play baseball and football, making the all star game with the use of only one arm. Lester continued to play sports throughout high school and college. He began to compete in running and biathlon races at age 16 and by age 18 was ranked #2 for biathlons in the state of Arizona.

Triathlon

Jason Lester hits mile 2,400 on day 50 of Journey for a Better World

In 2004, Lester competed in the Ironman World Championships in Kona. To get ready for the event he trained extensively and hired a coach to teach him how to swim. During his training Lester began to notice that he was slowly regaining movement in his right arm.

In 2008, Lester became the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships.[3] In June 2009, at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, Lester came in 3rd in his age group, which qualified him to compete in the Ironman World Championships later that year. That same summer, in July 2009, Lester broke ground by becoming the first male triathlete to win an ESPY Award.[1] In August 2009, Lester became the 25th person to complete both Ultraman Canada and Ultraman Hawaii out of 428 total competitors. In November 2009, Lester became the 15th athlete in the history of Ultraman to complete both Hawaii and Canada in the same year.

Never Stop Foundation

In 2007, Lester founded the Never Stop Foundation.[4] The Foundation aims to use athletics to teach its young participants how to think creatively about their lives - then give them the practical skills to turn their dreams into reality.

Lester is active in the development of the Never Stop Performance Center (NSPC) based in his home town of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i. The center, set to break ground in 2011, will be a place where both children and adults will receive a chance to improve their lives through athletics, helping to build a strong life mentally, physically, and spiritually, further enabling them to reach their full potential.

Art

Lester is also a practicing artist, particularly in painting. Both his father and grandfather were accomplished artists. In 2001 he opened The JR Gallery in Manhattan Beach, California, featuring the works of new and established artists, including paintings from Lester’s own collection. The gallery and art career flourished and he became an internationally acclaimed artist, with many of his works and private commissions being requested by the sports clients of his past.[citation needed]

Racing and endurance highlights

  • Ran 316 miles from Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney, 2011 (1st male athlete to complete)[citation needed]
  • EPIC5- 5 Iron Distance Triathlons | 5 Hawaiian Islands, 2010
  • ESPY Award Winner - Best Male Athlete with a Disability, 2009[1]
  • Ultraman Canada, 2008 (4th place overall in the run,[5] 2009 (14th place overall)[6]
  • Ultraman Hawaii World Championships, 2008 (24th overall),[7] 2009 (18th overall),[8] 2010
  • Ironman Arizona, 2007, 2008
  • Ironman World Championship, 2008, 2009
  • Ironman Western Australia, 2007
  • 70.3 Boise, 2009
  • 70.3 Honolulu, 2009 (3rd in age group, and qualified for Ironman World Championships), 2010
  • Ultramarathon – Hilo to Volcano, 2008 (9th place overall)
  • UItramarathon – Western States 100, 2009 (pacer)
  • ITU Triathlon World Championships, 2007 (6th place), 2008 (2nd in category)
  • International Triathlon San Diego, 2007
  • The Nautica New York City Triathlon, 2007 (2nd in category)
  • Duathlon – Pac Crest Endurance, 2008 (3rd in age group)[9]
  • USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year, 2008
  • USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year Finalist, 2007
  • Scottsdale Duathlon, 2005, (1st in age group,[10] 2nd overall[11])

References

  1. ^ a b c Azpiri, Jon (16 July 2009). "ESPY Winners 2009: Complete List". NowPublic.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  2. ^ Henry, Dawn (23 July 2009). "Jason Lester Wins ESPY Award". Ironman.com. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Faith was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "History". Never Stop Foundation. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  5. ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2008 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  6. ^ "Ultraman Canada History - 2009 Records and Results". Ultraman Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  7. ^ "2008 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  8. ^ "2009 Results Page". Ultraman World Championships. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  9. ^ "Online Results - Pacific Crest Endurance Duathlon". AA Sports Limited. 7 July 2008.
  10. ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Age Group". TriFamily Racing.
  11. ^ "Scottsdale Duathlon/Triathlon - Overall". TriFamily Racing.

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