Arlington Hts. amputee realizes dream of competing in triathlon

It had been Jean Draper's goal to complete an Olympic-distance triathlon.

That goal was interrupted four years ago when she lost her right foot after a driver, trying to park, hit her parked car as she was helping her children out of the vehicle.

On Sunday, the Arlington Heights resident was in New York City, competing in the Nautica New York City Triathlon.

Nearly 50 physically-challenged athletes entered the para triathlon championship division, and it turned into a triumph for Draper. She finished third among female below-knee amputees with a time of three hours and nine minutes.

As she crossed the finish line, she couldn't stop crying, she said.

"It was definitely the hardest thing I have done since my accident," said Draper.

Her time qualified Draper to compete in the world championships in Australia, although she has yet to determine whether she has the finances to make the trip.

One of the challenges she faced Sunday was the Hudson River, which she described as "nasty."

"It was kind of brackish, because you could taste the salt. (Also), there is garbage. When you come out of the water, you have black stuff all over your face" Draper said.

Still, she said, the swimming was the easiest of the three phases. "We had a nice current," which she said trimmed about 15 minutes from her time.

The biking and running were more difficult. "I was on the bike for an hour and 40 minutes, and it was all hills." This, in turn, made the run more challenging than she expected.

She credited her fellow paratriathletes with helping her achieve her goal.

"People kept telling me, 'You just need to go out there and race against yourself'" said Draper.

She had the moral and physical support of her husband Robert, a fellow triathlete, who was her handler.

"I was extremely proud," Robert Draper said. "Seeing her being able to complete this distance and enjoy it definitely fills me with fulfillment, because it's something we enjoy doing together and something that on a good weekend we can do as a partnership."