Alumni Spotlight - Triathlon Coach Fuels Olympic Success

Have you ever wondered what it takes to support elite athletes competing in the Beijing Olympics? In addition to the athletes themselves, the Olympic dream is carried on in the ranks of those charged with guiding U.S. athletes to victory.

Bob Seebohar, a graduate of health and exercise science (B.S. ’95, M.S. ‘00) and food science and human nutrition (M.S. ’01) in the College of Applied Human Sciences, is living his dream at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as a sport dietitian for the U.S. Olympic Committee, a sport dietitian for USA Triathlon, and as the personal coach to Sarah Haskins-Kortuem, Olympic triathlete.

While in China, Seebohar is responsible for assessing the food in the Olympic Village and the surrounding areas, purchasing and preparing meals for the U.S. Olympic triathlon team, and providing one-on-one coaching for Sarah Haskins-Kortuem in her Olympic triathlon debut.

Seebohar says, “In my role as a sport dietician for the U.S. Olympic Committee, I am responsible for assisting the athletes in improving their performance through nutrition.” As the endurance sports dietician, Seebohar works with all endurance based sports such as triathlon, rowing, and biathlon. He says, “My biggest impact to date has been helping athletes understand how to properly time their nutrient consumption to meet their two to five per day training sessions along with helping them understand instinctual eating and moving away from calorie counting.”

Growing up playing competitive soccer, Seebohar shifted his focus to ultra endurance multisport racing 14 years ago. He has competed in over 100 events, most notably six Ironman triathlon races, the Boston Marathon, the Leadville 100 mile mountain bike race and the Leadville 100 mile trail running race. Seebohar says, “Being a competitive athlete all of my life has helped direct my career. Staying involved in competitive endurance racing also helps my knowledge of the mental, physical, and nutritional demands that athletes face on a daily basis.”

Seebohar says of his education at Colorado State, “I received my undergraduate degree in health and exercise science and worked in the ‘real world’ for three years before returning to CSU for graduate school. It was then when I knew exactly what I wanted to do – be a coach and sport dietitian – and set my sights on being the best I could be.” Seebohar cites health and exercise science Professor Matt Hickey as his inspiration for returning to Colorado State for his graduate degree.

“Upon first meeting Matt, I knew that he would be a fantastic mentor and groom my knowledge of the field more. Through his leadership and direction and the great coursework that CSU had to offer, I gained a better understanding of the science behind nutrition and physiology, which is the foundation of what I do each day working with athletes.”

Seebohar earned his master’s in exercise science and nutrition, an interdisciplinary degree as well as a second master’s degree in food science and human nutrition. While in graduate school, he coached the CSU women’s club soccer team and they won the national club championship the first year he coaching them. Seebohar’s wife Wendy Seebohar is also a health and exercise science graduate (B.S. ’96).

Seebohar says, “My degrees from CSU were truly the springboard for being a successful coach and sport dietitian. To be part of the 2008 Olympic team is a dream come true for me.”

The Olympic triathlon competitions are scheduled for August 18 and 19. To follow Seebohar’s Olympic journey, visit his blog at http://fuel4manceblog.blogspot.com.

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Contact:  Gretchen Gerding
Telephone:  970.491.5182
Email:  Gretchen.Gerding@colostate.edu