Triathlete takes Centennial Beach training into international competition
Brian Dickhut, a member of Centennial Beach and a triathlon athlete since 2011, is heading to the World Triathlon Championships in Gold Coast, Australia, as a member of Team USA.
Before the world championships Sept. 12 to 16, Dickhut also will compete Sunday, Aug. 5, in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon and Sunday, Aug. 12, in the USA Triathlon Nationals in Cleveland.
To honor and support Dickhut in his triathlon training and travel as a member of Team USA, the Beach Bum Club from Centennial Beach will host a fundraiser for him at its annual picnic.
The Beach Bums, longtime Centennial Beach members who enjoy spending time together at the Beach, will gather for the annual picnic at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at 500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville.
Beach members or guests may buy raffle tickets at the event for $10 for the chance to win a prize, and proceeds will go to support Dickhut's triathlon expenses as a Team USA athlete.
"Brian Dickhut has been sharing the hill (where the Beach Bums usually sit) with us for a few years now," Beach Bum Renata Yuill said.
"He is a very outgoing and cheerful person and likes to share his triathlon stories with us. To have an athlete of such caliber among us prompted us to get together as a small Beach community and raise some money to offset his travel and race expenses. So far this season he did five triathlons and made podium at each one. It is exciting to follow his accomplishments, and we encourage him along the way."
Dickhut, a software engineer who lives in the Naperville area, first discovered triathlons in 2010 when he watched some friends compete in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon. He set a goal to compete in the race himself the next year.
"After competing in my first race in 2011, I was amazed by the spirit and camaraderie of triathlon and was hooked," Dickhut said.
"I couldn't wait for my next race. As I continued to train at Centennial Beach, I came to know most of the regular members, the Beach Bums, an affectionate term for some of our most loyal beach patrons."
Dickhut is looking forward to participating again this year in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon on Aug. 5 at Centennial Beach.
"The upcoming Naperville Sprint Triathlon remains one of my favorite local events, and this year will mark my seventh year participating," Dickhut said.
"It is a great race for first-timers and veterans alike. Coming off a hard training block and with the USAT National Championship races coming up six days later in Cleveland, this year's Naperville race will be a more casual tuneup event in the training schedule rather than an all-out effort for podium positions."