Taylor Babb has trophies from triathlons in several states. “I have eight trophies. Five of them are first place,” said the 10-year-old from Arlington.
It all started just over a year ago, when Taylor and her father, a sports enthusiast, explored their interest in running online. “I had been training with my dad, and he talked me into looking online for some races,” Taylor said. She came in first in a nearby triathlon, and was immediately bitten by the competitive bug. “That sparked her interest,” said her dad, Ty, 36.
Her initial victory led to races in Louisiana, Alabama, California and Kansas, which then led to qualifying for the IronKids National triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa. Taylor came in second in the nation. “It was awesome,” Taylor said.
Her parents thought investing in Taylor’s talent was worth it, so they hired Lesley Brainard to train her. “She covered things I wasn’t hitting on,” Ty said. Brainard helped Taylor with her form for riding a bicycle and gave swimming pointers to improve her time. “She tells me what technique I need to do to get better,” Taylor said.
Taylor runs and swims in the mornings before school three days a week, and during the off-season in the winter she participates in soccer and swims on a team. Training is the part Taylor dislikes the most. What she does like: “Standing on the podium,” she said.
She inherited her athletic ability from her father. “I was a runner in high school. I wanted to do triathlons, but we didn’t have the means,” he said. “She’s a total daddy’s girl,” said Taylor’s mom, Kelly, 32.
Taylor’s future goal is a specific one. “The Olympics,” she said.