This story first appeared on CMUMavericks.com
Incoming Colorado Mesa University freshman Emma Meyers has been officially named to Team USA for the upcoming 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France, it was announced by USA Triathlon.
A native of Pensacola, Florida, Meyers signed her national letter of intent with the Mavericks last fall and when she first competes for the Mavs later this fall, will become the first para-athlete to compete in varsity collegiate triathlon at the NCAA Triathlon level.
At the age of 18, she will be the youngest of 15 elite paratriathletes and two guides from Team USA who will compete on Sept. 1-2 during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which begin with opening ceremonies on Aug. 28. Her PTS4 classification event, which will also include PTS3 classification athletes, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. Eastern/Midnight on Saturday, Aug. 31 Mountain Time).
Streaming and broadcast information can be found on NBC's Olympic/Paralympic website.
The Paralympic race will cover a 750-meter swim, non-drafting 20-kilometer bike and 5K run in the heart of the Paris and will begin at the Pont Alexandre III bridge, the same venue as the Olympic triathlon competitions.
"This is very exciting for Emma, NCAA triathlon and for our team," CMU Triathlon Coach Jen Mathe said. "Her hard work and dedication have paid off, and I can't wait to welcome her home from the Olympics and have her join us here at CMU. I know our entire team is extremely excited for her and proud to have her as a teammate. We will all be watching the race from Grand Junction and wish her luck in her Olympic debut."
Meyers comes into the Paralympics, ranked fourth in the World Triathlon Para Rankings for the PTS4 classification and eighth in the World Triathlon Paralympic Qualification Rankings. She placed sixth at the Montreal (Canada) and Yokohama (Japan) World Triathlon Para Series events earlier this year and took second at the 2024 Americas Triathlon Para Championships in Miami in March.  Meyers' PTS4 teammate Kelly Elmlinger, 45, is ranked first in the world and will come to Paris on a 9-race winning streak, including the 2023 World Championship. She made her debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
A total of 56 men and 50 women from 11 categories (six men's, five women's) qualified for the Paralympics through the rankings in each classification with the top nine athletes in the PTS4 qualifying. Five PTS3 athletes have also qualified to compete in the joint classification race. However, countries are limited to two entries per event.  Another 16 eligible athletes will then be selected by the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) and World Triathlon with bipartite invitation based on gender equality and worldwide representation of athletes and National Paralympic Committees.
The U.S. has won the most triathlon medals in Paralympic Games history with nine since triathlon made its Paralympics debut at the Rio 2016 Games. The U.S. won three gold medals at the last Paralympic Games in Tokyo to lead the world and has won five previous gold medals in the previous two games.
Meyers was born with fibular hemimelia, a congenital limb deficiency that limits the growth of the calf bone. Her leg was amputated below the knee when she was just a toddler, two months after being adopted from China by parents Jacob and Leah Meyers. She started her triathlon journey in 2017 and has earned 10 podiums and three wins in World Triathlon events. Â
At CMU, she plans to major in social work and aspires to work with non-profit organizations to advocate for people with disabilities by promoting healthy lifestyles and mental health.
The CMU triathlon team has won five straight regional titles. The Mavericks have also finished in the top four of the NCAA Division II standings in each of the last five Women's Collegiate Triathlon Championships, placing third in the fall of 2023 after taking second in 2022.
