Centre News

Rob Urbach ’85 was named Chief Executive
Officer of USA Triathlon this past February.

Urbach (seated, left) was an All-American
tennis player at Centre.

Centre College graduate Rob Urbach ’85, who in February of 2011 was named Chief Executive Officer of USA Triathlon, is once again making headlines. Colorado Spring’s The Gazette recently featured Urbach in a story about his desire to inspire many to compete in triathlons.

Urbach, described by USA Triathlon as “one of the most accomplished and talented executives in the sports industry,” was an All-American tennis player at Centre and competed in his first triathlon in 1981. Since then, he has strived to spread the word about the value of the sport and to encourage more to participate.

“There’s something special about triathlon that’s not shared with our single-sport brethren,” he told The Gazette. “The complexity, the variety, the challenges are different,” and people “can pick up our sport a little bit easier because it’s less skill and more fitness-based. … It’s a very social sport. There’s so much atmosphere. There’s so much camaraderie.”

Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon is the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, off-road triathlon, winter triathlon and paratriathlon, in the nation. The organization sanctions more than 3,100 races every year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. It also provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.

To read the full Gazette feature about Urbach’s first two months as CEO of USA Triathlon, click here.