Athletes Men › Chase McQueen
Chase McQueen grew up in the US Midwest in a small town in Indiana, playing a variety of sports, but focussing competitively on swimming in high school. A talented swimmer with a long, gliding stroke he’s since adapted for the open water, McQueen became worn down by 10,000-yard weeks in the pool and jumped at the chance to take part in triathlon becoming hooked on swim, bike and run from his first draft-legal junior race. He would go on to compete in the junior World Championship in 2015 in Chicago and again in Rotterdam in 2017, where he finished 12th.
Opportunities to pair triathlon with his studies were initially limited as he moved into higher education, so the decision was taken to run track and field and cross-country at the University of Arizona, while competing in triathlon outside of the college. McQueen’s breakthrough came when he was selected for the inaugural USAT Podium Project. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, it was the equivalent to a scholarship in other endurance sports and meant living and training with other aspiring young professional triathletes such as 2016 junior world champion Austin Hindman.
If there were eyes on McQueen as a graduate from the programme, the attention increased further when he was involved in a high profile incident on his Word Triathlon Championship Series debut in Leeds last year, that led to double-Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee being disqualified for roughhouse tactics in the swim. Putting it behind him, McQueen was brought in to help US hope Morgan Pearsonprepare for Tokyo 2020, and although the individual race didn’t go to plan, Pearson did anchor the US to Olympic silver in the mixed team relay. McQueen is not averse to relay action himself, taking over from Pearson to anchor USA to victory in the mixed team relay in Montreal just a fortnight later.
This summer, McQueen joined a new training group in Boulder, Colorado that includes Olympic champion Flora Duffy, and talented US stars Kirsten Kasper and Kevin McDowell. He hopes it will help him realise his own Olympic ambitions come Paris 2024. The 2022 Championship series will mark McQueen’s first Super League experience.
Outside of triathlon, McQueen loves the great outdoors, including fishing, camping and cross-country skiing. One final point to clear up. Despite circulating rumours, Chase is keen to point out that he’s not the grandson of Hollywood icon Steve McQueen.
Results posted shortly after the race may contain errors.
RR - Race Ready | TBD - To Be Determined | DNS - Did Not Start | DNF - Did Not Finish