Courage, Perseverance and Resilience

Meet Gary Yerman. He is a husband, father and managing partner of a successful NYC law firm. 

36 years ago, Gary suffered a freak accident when he was 19, playing football in Germany, while serving in the military. That accident left him debilitated and unable to run.

Despite undergoing 15 surgeries, his situation worsened over time. It got to the point where he was living in excruciating pain and dreaded having to walk more than just a few steps.

Exactly 2 years ago on December 5, 2019 he had a below-the-knee amputation and has never looked back. His goal was to become a triathlete. 

Coach E assisting Gary out of the water at TOUGHMAN®

A New Life

Following the amputation, Gary embarked on a new life, that included doing things many of us take for granted, but  ones he hadn't been able to do for years.

After not having the ability to bike or run for nearly 4 decades, Gary set out to accomplish his life-long goal of completing a triathlon. Talk about a super-overachiever! Soon after, he hired RTA Triathlon to help prepare and train him properly for his first event. He also joined Team RTA triathlon club in order to surround himself with like-minded individuals who would inspire him and make his journey more fun.

Needless to say, part of Gary's preparation included re-learning how to swim, bike and run with his new prosthetics. Additionally, his training load had to increase slowly and conservatively because he was building himself up from ZERO.

"The hardest part was holding him back," said Elizabeth Kaplanis, co-founder and head coach of RTA Triathlon. 

Before long, Gary was up to running 5 miles on his new prothetic blade, a distance he had not covered in 37 years. 

When I hire someone, I look for knowledge, attentiveness, enthusiasm and dedication. RTA possesses all of these qualities. If you are serious about your goals, hire them." ​- Gary

Race Season!

June 2021, the time came for Gary's first race: the Montauk Sprint Triathlon. He was physically fit and ready to go, but unfortunately things didn't go as planned. He experienced a wetsuit malfunction and ended up doing half of the swim with his wetsuit around his waist. Despite that setback, he forged on and ultimately finished.

Gary's 1st triathlon finish

Next up: the Atlantic City Sprint Triathlon. It was time for redemption. Gary had a successful swim and a solid bike, but the carbon fiber blade on his prothetic snapped half-way through the run. This would have been an acceptable reason to call it quits, but not Gary. He willed his way to the finish by hopping alongside other racers, and eventually crawling to the finish line.

Gary's wife, Megan and Coach E at the AC Tri finish line

The TOUGHMAN sprint triathlon was his last race of the year. This was finally the day for which he had waited for.

The swim, bike and run all went according to plan. Gary had a great race on a very hilly course at Harriman State Park in Stoney Point, NY. He finished ahead of several able-bodied competitors in his age group, marking the end of his second life and his first year as a triathlete on a high note.

​Well done, Gary!

Limitless

Needless to say, Gary is not done. For 2022, he has his sights set on the olympic distance triathlon, and perhaps even a Half-Iron distance / IRONMAN 70.3 or further.

He is beginning his second year with experience and a new perspective: trust the process and slow, but consistent, hard work pays off. The possibilities are limitless.

Gary's triumph is one of many inspirational "success stories" among RTA's athletes and the Tri Club members. Our group comprises of a range of ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience and ability.

The best part, however, is that despite all of our different journeys, we all encourage and support our fellow teammates and athletes in whatever endeavors they choose.

Gary and fellow RTA Club member Andrew celebrating their finish

Gary and two of his kids

Mission Accomplished! Coach E and Gary

Learn more about RTA Coaching and Triathlon Club.