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Desiree Ficker, Pro Triathlete
“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of
the stars or sailed an unchartered land, or
opened a new doorway for the human spirit”
These words from Helen Keller, best embody the spirit and lifestyle of pro triathlete
Desiree Ficker; words that inspire Desiree to push forward during the most demanding
times in her pursuit of success.
As you will learn, these are words from which Desiree draws inspiration as she
perseveres to become one of the top female triathletes in the world and more
importantly, to share her success with her community.
About Desiree Ficker
Born December 9, 1976, Desiree began competing in
cross country/track and field Junior Olympics at the age
of 9. Her parents, Annette and Robin Ficker were avid
track and field fans and with her brothers Robby and
Flynn spent family vacations following the World Track
and Field circuit. By the time she was 16, she had
already traveled to Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy,
Yugoslavia, Spain, Korea and Japan.
With father, Robin
Desiree attended the University of Alabama, on a track
and field/cross country scholarship where she received
her B.A. in Psychology and Education in 1998.
Desiree had always held high interest in the Hawaii
Ironman competition and in March, 1999, she attended
her first masters swim practice and purchased her first
triathlon bike.
Desiree and Ironman North America CEO
Graham Fraser
In the summer of 1999, she qualified for her first
Hawaii Ironman as an amateur.
Accomplishments & Career Highlights
Desiree followed up by competing in her second Ironman
Hawaii in 2000. She was named Amateur Triathlete of the
Year in 2000 and was admitted into the Resident Team
program at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs. She turned professional in 2001 and lived at the
training center the entire year. From there she went on to
live in Boulder, Colorado to train under the legendary
Dave Scott.
Career Highlights
1999 & 2000 - USA Triathlon Age Group Triathlete of
the Year
© MARIO CANTU
2001 - Professional Rookie Triathlete of the Year
2002, 2003 & 2004 - Professional Duathlete of the Year
2003 - Pro Triathlon Nationals, 6th Place
2004 - Duathlon World Ranking, 4th Place
2006 – Team TriDubai – only U.S. member
Race Results
Race Results
2002 - Powerman Alabama, Champion
2003 - Powerman Alabama, Champion
2004 - Capital of Texas Triathlon, Champion
2004 - Treasure Island Triathlon, Champion
2004 - Powerman of Alabama, Champion
2004 - Eagleman Half Ironman, 2nd Place
2005 - Capital of Texas Triathlon, Champion
2005 - Ironman Arizona, 2nd Place
2005 - Ralph’s Half Ironman, 2nd Place
2005 - Memphis in May Triathlon, 3rd Place
2006 - Run Tex 20 Miler – 1st Female overall
Racing in the 2005 Hawaii Ironman on her custom-made
Guru
2006 – Ironman California 70.3 – 2nd Place
Professional Goals
 “To place in the top five at the Ironman® World Championship Triathlon in
2006.
 “To improve my swimming and move further towards my ultimate goal of
qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games in triathlon by improving my ITU ranking.”
 “To be an Ironman® Champion.”
© MARIO CANTU
Family Day at Ft. Hood for the troops returning
home from Iraq.
© MARIO CANTU
Desiree with her friend and swimming partner, Pandora
Values
“Desiree came on the Austin scene with a flourish by
winning the Pace Bend Road Race (bike) breaking away
solo from a top field of the best women cyclists. No one
knew who she was! Who is this Desiree Ficker? It was hard
to track her down for this interview, as she is a
globetrotting multi-sporter doing her thing all over the
globe. Now we know her as one of the most gracious and
elite of the Triathletes of our region and even from the
whole United States. Go Desiree!”
- From Austin’s Triathlon Source after naming Desiree “Triathlete of the Month” for January, 2006
Values
Attributes
 Compassionate
 Loyal to friends, true to her sport
 Close knit family
Leadership
 Works as substitute teacher
 Coaches age group triathletes and
runners and mentors teenage
swimmers
 Designs kids triathlon camps
 Articulate and speaks regularly at
community functions
Recent Community & Philanthropic
Activities
 Advises Ulman Cancer Fund’s “Run
Together, Tri Together”
 Greeted returning troops at The U.S.
Army Family Day at Ft. Hood, then
participated in the Family Day
Triathlon.
 Team TriDubai – one of two US
athletes to be competing in support of
The Human Interest Group benefiting
8 charitable organization worldwide.
As a Writer & Co-Author, “The Waterproof Triathlete”
Ancient Mariner Aquatics, Inc. has released a unique, self-paced
workout book for triathletes and multisport athletes called The
Waterproof Triathlete: Waterproof Workouts for Triathletes. This
book is completely waterproof and weatherproof. Each page of
workouts is cut into three segments--the first segment contains a
swim workout, the second a bike workout, and the third a run
workout. Containing 36 pages of workouts, the book can easily
be configured into over 10,000 different swim-bike-run workouts.
The Waterproof Triathlete
has been endorsed by
Christy Underdonk, Overall
Winner of the Make-a-Wish
Triathlon 2001, who
comments: "Really creative
workouts!" Leigh Fulwood, a
USCF Category 1 Cyclist,
says the book is "a great tool
for keeping work-outs fresh
and fun."
The authors of The Waterproof Triathlete are Thomas Denes
and Desiree Ficker. Denes competes in Masters swimming
competitions at both the national and international levels,
placing in events as diverse as the 50 meter freestyle, the 200
meter butterfly and the two mile open water swim. He is the
author of The Waterproof Coach. Ficker is a professional
triathlete and duathlete who was named 2001 Professional
Triathlete Rookie of the Year by USA Triathlon. She has won
several professional duathlons.
In The News
Proathlon, March 26, 2002
Inside Triathlon, March 31, 2003
In The News
Duathlon.com, July 11, 2003
Inside Triathlon, March 29, 2004
In The News
RunTex.com, April 10, 2005
RunTex.com, January 8, 2006
Magazine Covers & Feature Articles
“Ficker takes Cap Tex Tri Crown”
“Desiree Ficker, Cap Tex Tri”
July 2005
July / August 2005
Magazine Covers & Feature Articles
“Full Speed Ahead; Pro Triathlete and
Potomac Native Desiree Ficker is Just
Beginning to Hit Her Stride
“Stars of Tomorrow” Next
Generation of Triathlon Greats in
the Making
September 2005
October 2005
Magazine Covers & Feature Articles
Guru Bikes National Print Ad
February 2006
Sponsors
Current Sponsors, Endorsements &
Consideration
Desiree going for a training ride on her Guru
bike
Supporting our troops
Bikes:
Guru Bikes
Shoes:
Asics
Recovery Nutrition: Recover Ease
Wetsuits:
Blue Seventy
Hydration:
Nuun
Bike Wheels:
Zipp Speed Weaponry
Sunglasses and
Helmet:
Rudy Project
Bike Shop:
Jack and Adams
Bike Hydration:
Podium Quest
Massage:
Body Therapy
Acupuncture:
Karen Smith
Representation:
Bennet & Bennet, PLLC
Triathlon Key Facts
Few sports can match triathlon’s demographic. Extremely focused and driven to succeed,
these affluent young professionals no only embrace new technologies but have the
purchasing power to obtain them.
 Membership in USA Triathlon has continued it’s steady growth and has increased
over 350% over the past 11 years.
 Female membership in USA Triathlon has increased from 11% in the early 90’s to
about 29% in 2004.
 86% of the enthusiasts possess a 4 year college degree and 43% attained a postgraduate degree.
 Triathlon enthusiasts enjoy a Median Income of $116,900 with 62% making over
$100,000.
 74% are married and 53% have children 17 or younger.
 95% of the Households own a computer, with 100% of them utilizing the internet
daily.
Triathlon Key Facts
Breakdown of USA Triathlon Memberships by Age & Gender
Male
% of Age
Group
Total in Age
Group
% in relation
to all current
members
Age Group
Female
% of Age
Group
Under 16
326
43%
425
57%
751
1.4%
16-19
237
36%
426
64%
663
1.2%
20-29
3,403
43%
4,485
57%
7,888
15.0%
30-39
6,512
32%
13,595
68%
20,107
38.0%
40-49
4,315
29%
10,367
71%
14,682
28.0%
50-59
1,215
23%
4,079
77%
5,294
9.9%
60-69
216
16%
1,115
84%
1,331
2.5%
70-79
28
15%
163
85%
191
0.4%
80 plus
0
0%
15
100%
15
NQ
Triathlon Key Facts
 In 1984, Timex Corporation created the “Triathlon” watch, and then joins with
Ironman organizers to use the name “Ironman.” It is now the top-selling watch in the
World.
 In 1985, triathlon sparks the cross-training fitness boom. Nike features pro-triathlete
Joann Ernst, in national ad campaigns, later made famous by Bo Jackson and Deion
Sanders.
 Before, during and after the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, USA
Triathlon and its elite athletes appeared in such publications as the New York Times,
the L.A. Times, Vanity Fair, Washington Post, USA Today, the Orlando Sentinel, the
Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News, the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press and
a host of others. Olympic bronze medalist Susan Williams was interviewed on NBC,
the Today Show and did numerous interviews with NBC affiliates across the country.
 NBC's prime time Olympic coverage on Aug. 25, 2004, which included coverage of
the women's Olympic triathlon, was the third most-watched prime time show for the
week of Aug. 22, 2004. The first and second most-watched shows were also the prime
time Olympic coverage. The women's triathlon was seen in 24.3 million households,
according to Nielsen Media Research.
Contact Information
Representation
Bennet & Bennet PLLC
Carri Bennet, CEO
202.371.1500
[email protected]
Licensing, Marketing
& Sponsorship
John Koenig
Steve Ishihara
310.874.5823
310.344.5528
[email protected]
[email protected]