US Military Endurance Sports

USMES Elite Team Roster

Adam Popp

Para-triathlon

Motto: “Every day is an opportunity to better yourself” Combat Veteran and Paralympic hopeful Adam Popp is enjoying an exceptional 2022. In March he won the Americas Triathlon Championships for the second year in a row, and in April he was a presenter at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Southwest Regional Conference. In July and August he podiumed at World Triathlons in … full profile »

Andrew Hairston

Para-cycling

Motto: “We all have excuses, I choose not to use mine” Paralympic hopeful and US Marine Corps Captain Andrew Hairston made his adaptive sports debut in June 2021, finishing third in the handcycle at the Achilles Hope & Possibility 4-Miler. “It was the first time that I actually felt like myself again,” said Andrew, who was rehabbing at Walter Reed Hospital after an accident and amputation of his … full profile »

Christian Acker

Cycling

Motto: “Ctrl + Alt + Del. Control yourself, alter your thoughts, delete negativity” High school track star (and future cyclist) Christian Acker snagged a South Carolina state championship win before moving on to an NCAA career on the Clemson University Cross Country and Track teams. After running out of eligibility – but not the desire for competition or speed – Christian joined the Clemson … full profile »

Eduardo Colon Ortiz

Cycling

Motto: “Heart is the difference between those who attempt and those who achieve” Army Field Artillery Officer Eduardo Colon Ortiz began his bike racing career at 12, inspired by his cyclist father. In 2004 Eduardo was accepted to a specialized sport school in Puerto Rico, where he was twice named Outstanding Athlete of the Year. Eduardo attended the Pontifical University of Puerto Rico, the first … full profile »

Imelda Muller

Triathlon

Motto: “Embrace the opportunity for failure” Navy Lieutenant Imelda Muller is an Undersea Physician and IRONMAN Champion (IRONMAN AZ 2018). She ended her 2019 racing season with a 9:52:41 PR at IRONMAN Florida, just 3 weeks after completing the 2019 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona. Imelda started racing triathlons on the Northeastern University Triathlon Team in College. After suspending her … full profile »

Jay ShalekBriski

Cycling

Motto: “Never quit” If there is one word to describe Jay ShalekBriski’s cycling career, it’s flexibility. After a successful U23 racing career, winning the Collegiate A Conference Championship for the USAF Academy Cycling Team and racing in Belgium for the U23 pro-development Fuji Test Team, Jay returned to the U.S. to begin pilot training. In the years since then, this Air Force Captain has … full profile »

Jessica Rockson

Cycling

Motto: “It never gets easier; you only get faster” Bio coming soon… full profile »

Kelly Elmlinger

Para-triathlon

Motto: “Take advantage of opportunities” Tokyo 2020 Paralympic contender Kelly Elmlinger is a cancer survivor, amputee, retired Army Captain, and current USA Paratriathlon National Champion. This spring Kelly was named Paratriathlon Development Athlete of the Year by USA Triathlon, the national governing body of triathlon. “Kelly has made an immediate impact on the competitive paratriathlon … full profile »

Kyle Warrick

Triathlon

Motto: “Pain is temporary, pride is permanent” Bio coming soon… full profile »

Lisa Hesse

Triathlon

Motto: “You are strong, you can keep going” Bio coming soon… full profile »

Megan Walsh

Running

Motto: “Work hard and be nice to people” Bio coming soon… full profile »

Samantha Goldenstein

Cycling

Motto: “Celebrate what you accomplish but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.” Army Reserves Master Sergeant Samantha Goldenstein is a Category 2 road racer who competed in 13 major pro/1/2 races during her 2019 season. In 2019 Samantha also finished her Masters in Exercise and Sports Science at Texas State University, where she was Lead Graduate Research Assistant in the … full profile »