A one-day "kick-off" camp will also be held at Walter Reed at the beginning of May, with a three-day camp from March 27 until 29 at the San Antonio Military Hospital also being planned by USA Paratriathlon.

"USA Paratriathlon is honoured to receive this grant from the Given Limb Foundation and implement a training programme at Walter Reed, which is something we have wanted to do for a few years," said Amanda Duke Boulet, USA Triathlon Paratriathlon programme manager.

"We look forward to introducing wounded veterans to the sport of Paratriathlon, with the aim of seeing these men and women on the podium at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships or Paralympic Games someday."

The five-month training programme will be held at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Washington DC ©Bloomberg/Getty Images



The programme and camps will be hoping to introduce a minimum of 20 disabled veterans to paratriathlon with 10 spaces available in the Walter Reed programme and 10 to 15 spaces at the camp in San Antonio.

The grant money will also be used to help athletes in the Walter Reed training programme find a USA Triathlon certified coach and join Team Z, a local USA Triathlon-certified club near the medical centre.

The club will provide training plans, educational clinics, expert coaching, and motivational group workouts to athletes in the programme.

"I have always been in awe of the sacrifices our service men and woman make on the behalf of others, and the Team Z coaching staff and team members are very thankful for the opportunity to give back to them," said Ed Zerkle, founder and head coach of Team Z.

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