Ben Kanute

Ben Kanute is an American triathlete selected for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

• 2016 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team Member
• USA Triathlon National Team Member
• 2016 ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Champion
• 2015 USA Triathlon Elite National Champion
• Won both draft-legal sprint-distance and Olympic-distance titles at the 2013 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships
• 2010 USA Triathlon Junior Elite National Champion
• 2008 USA Triathlon Junior Elite National Champion

Per his Team USA profile,

Parents are Mike and Eileen Kanute • Has two younger brothers, Josh and Nick • Attended the University of Arizona and competed on the school's club triathlon team, the TriCats, rather than participate in a varsity sport • Was an all-state swimmer and cross country runner in high school • Completed his first triathlon at age 8 • Also played sports like baseball and soccer • Proudest moment was watching his brother win the Youth Elite National Championships as an underdog • Typically finds a bad made-for-TV movie to watch the night before a race • Loves triathlon because it allows him to be outside and test the limits of his body • Considers coffee one of his biggest hobbies • When he’s not racing, he likes to hang out in cafes, watch Netflix, play Xbox and read books • Loves to grill when he’s cooking • Will root for any of Chicago’s professional sports teams • Favorite quote is from Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”