By Rich Winter

605 Sports

HAMBURG, Germany — With a crowd of triathlon-crazed fans lining the bike path at the 2023 World Triathlon Junior World Championships, Sioux Falls O’Gorman senior Ruth Pardy began making her move. 

Having navigated the 750-meter swim, Pardy, with the assistance of several other bike riders, was making her way up to the lead pack when disaster struck. 

“I don’t remember what happened but another competitor told me I was cut off and shoved into the barrier,” Pardy said. 

Laying on the ground with a severe concussion, Pardy was unable to continue the race, her first at a world class event. 

“Overall it was a great experience because it forces you to think about racing and how to race,” she said. “You are competing against athletes you normally don’t compete against and I thought it was awesome to hear people get excited to hear about someone from South Dakota competing at this level.” 

The trip to Germany and the representation of the United States took some hard work and delicate scheduling. 

Sioux Falls O'Gorman's Ruth Pardy was in 15th place following the swim at the Triathlon Junior World Championships - Photo courtesy of TREV_ITT@instagram.com

“It took me a while to qualify,” Hardy said. 

 While getting in shape to run for coach Aaron Strand’s distance crew at Sioux Falls O’Gorman, Hardy was also trying to earn one of those qualifying spots for Team USA

 In March, she traveled to Sarasota, Florida, to compete against other age-group triathletes, many of whom hail from warmer climates than South Dakota. 

 “I had a good swim in Florida but came up just a couple spots short of qualifying,” she said. 

 In April, it was a trip to Richmond Virginia where Pardy needed to win the race to qualify for the world team. She finished second. 

 And then in June, shortly after the South Dakota state track meet, Hardy traveled to Wisconsin where she finished second and qualified for the world team. 

 “Coming from South Dakota is definitely a challenge in this sport,” she said. “A lot of other athletes come from warmer climates and I have to bike indoors and run on a treadmill.” 

 Pardy grew up competing in competitive swimming. When she reached junior high she started running and Pardy did her first non-competitive triathlon at age 12. 

 Along the way she met Mia Wentzy, Brandon Valley standout mid-distance runner, who also competes in triathlons. 

 “I guess I started to get serious about triathlon when I was 15 and I competed in my first junior elite series race,” she said. 

 Being an elite athlete comes with its share of sacrifices. 

 “I had to miss the Drake Relay Elite Mile because I was competing in Richmond,” Pardy said. “I always have to be in communication with my coaches to keep them in the loop regarding what kind of training I’ve been doing for the other sport.” 

 Pardy has yet to decide if she’ll run collegiately or pursue the sport of triathlon. 

“I’ve debated for both sports,” she said. “I could run cross-country or track or I might have a future in triathlons. 

 Because of the concussion sustained while competing in Germany, Pardy will be unable to compete in the U.S. Nationals which takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 4. 

 “That was a pretty big goal of mine but I had to pull out of the race because I won’t be able to swim until then,” she said.