Two-time world record holder, Colin O’Brady spent the last two decades as an elite endurance athlete.
On a backpacking trip in Thailand, Colin suffered a tragic accident and was severely burned in a fire. His injuries covered nearly 25% of his body, primarily damaging his legs and feet. Doctors warned him he might never walk again normally, but Colin was determined to beat the odds.
On May 27th, 2016, Colin broke two mountaineering world records; he claimed the speed records for both the Seven Summits (132 days) and the Explorers Grand Slam (139 days), climbing the tallest mountain on each continent and skiing the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles.
A two-time world record holder, Colin O’Brady spent the last two decades as an elite endurance athlete.
Raised in Portland, Oregon Colin spent his childhood exploring the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and cultivated a passion for adventure in the outdoors. Colin was a nationally ranked swimmer and youth soccer star. He was recruited to swim at the collegiate varsity level for Yale University where he graduated with a Bachelors in Economics in 2006.
Before beginning what he thought would be a lifelong career in finance, Colin left to explore the world on a backpacking trip. While in Thailand, Colin suffered a tragic accident and was severely burned in a fire. His injuries covered nearly 25% of his body, primarily damaging his legs and feet.
Doctors warned him he might never walk again normally, but Colin was determined to beat the odds. He focused not only on walking again, but set himself a goal: to complete his first triathlon following his recovery. This focus drove his recovery and rehab. A mere 18 months after his accident while working as a commodities trader in Chicago, Colin amazed the racing world when he not only completed his first triathlon but placed first overall amateur at the 2009 Chicago Triathlon.
Over the past six years, Colin has raced as a professional triathlete in 25 countries on six continents representing the United States in international triathlon competitions.
On May 27th, 2016 Colin broke two mountaineering world records; he claimed the speed records for both the Seven Summits (132 days) and the Explorers Grand Slam (139 days), climbing the tallest mountain on each continent and skiing the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles. These world records are part of a larger venture coined BEYOND 7/2. Colin aims to use his athletic ambitions to raise awareness and $1 million in charitable funds to inspire active, healthy kids in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
“It’s one thing to put those big goals out there, but I’m a big believer in incremental goal setting.”
In This Episode:
- Embracing growing up in a mixed family
- Putting in just enough effort to get by in his early life
- The transition from doing something for fun to doing it as a profession
- Adapting to a new environment at Yale
- Traveling the world after college
- The moment that changed his life – a severe burn in Thailand
- Fulfilling his goal of competing in a triathlon
- The meaning of Beyond72
- The intensity of the journey to the South Pole
- Summiting Everest under harsh conditions
- Consistency as a key to breaking the record
- Why mental fortitude is so important
- Being flexible when chaos ensued
Quotables:
“I want to do something that has more of an impact than my own personal success or failure.”
“What is your Everest? Find your Everest.”
“It all comes down to perseverance.”
Support Beyond72: Donate here
Colin is collecting funds to support the mission of this project for his partner charity, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
