View source for Andy Potts

{{Short description|American triathlete (born 1976)}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|image= Andy_Potts_at_70.3_Eagleman.png
|image_size= 165px
|caption= Andy Potts at 2013 [[Ironman 70.3]] Eagleman
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|12|28|mf=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]]
|height = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|cm|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|175|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
|country= {{USA}}
|sport =Triathlon
|event=[[Triathlon]]
|death_date=
|death_place=
|show-medals=yes
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[swimming (sport)|Swimming]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Summer Universiade]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 1995 Summer Universiade|1995 Fukuoka]] | 400m Medley}} 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[triathlon]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2007 Pan American Games|2007 Rio de Janeiro]] | Individual}} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[Ironman 70.3|Ironman World Championship 70.3]]}}
{{MedalGold| 2007 | Individual }}
}}

'''Andrew Robert Potts''' (born December 28, 1976) is a [[triathlon|triathlete]] from the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/entertainment-gaming/article/2008-07/making-olympian|title=The Making of an Olympian|last=Cohen|first=Arianne|date=20 September 2008|publisher=Popular Science|accessdate=6 December 2011}}</ref> He competed in [[triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics]] and is the 2007 [[Ironman 70.3]] World Champion.<ref name="Yahoo!">{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/athens2004/triathlon/results|title=Triathlon - Men Results|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref><ref name="IM70.3">{{Cite web|url=http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/worldchampionship70.3/?show=tracker&race=worldchampionship70.3&year=2007|title=World Championship 70.3 2007 Results|access-date=2011-12-06|publisher=World Triathlon Corporation}}</ref> Prior to triathlon, Potts was a swimmer where he won the bronze medal in the men's [[Medley swimming|400m individual medley]] at the [[1995 Summer Universiade]]<ref name=bronze>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/univmswim.shtml#400im |title=400-Meter Individual Medley Results|access-date=2011-12-06|publisher=HickokSports.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121209042650/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/univmswim.shtml |archive-date=9 December 2012 }}</ref> and earned a spot on the [[USA Swimming]] national team where he would place fourth at the 1996 Olympic Trials in the 400 IM.<ref name="OT1996">{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/headings/regions/usa2.html|title=Andy Potts gets a second chance|date=17 June 2003|access-date=2011-12-06|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005001013/http://www.slowtwitch.com/headings/regions/usa2.html|archive-date=5 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal==
Raised in [[Princeton, New Jersey]], Potts graduated from [[Princeton High School (New Jersey)|Princeton High School]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|last=Alden|first=Bill|url=http://www.towntopics.com/jul2104/sports1.html|title=PHS Alum Potts Finds Direction In Triathlon; Now Aims to Soar at Athens Summer Games|publisher=[[Town Topics (newspaper)|Town Topics]]|date=July 21, 2004|access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref>

While attending school at Michigan, Potts met his future wife, [[Lisa Simes]], who was a member of the University of Michigan gymnastics teams. Simes was an acrobat for the [[Cirque du Soleil]] show, [[O (Cirque du Soleil)|O]], in Las Vegas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cirquetribune.com/database/artist.php?id=342|title=Artist Information: Lisa Simes|accessdate=6 December 2011|publisher=Cirque Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928005251/http://www.cirquetribune.com/database/artist.php?id=342|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two married on June 30, 2004. They have a son, Boston Thomas Potts and a daughter, Sloane Potts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/articles/2010/03/olympian-andy-potts-family-welcomes-newest-member.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-02-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802111521/http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/articles/2010/03/olympian-andy-potts-family-welcomes-newest-member.aspx |archivedate=2012-08-02 }}</ref>

==Career==
Potts graduated from the [[University of Michigan]] in 2000 with a B.A. in English and a secondary teaching certificate. At Michigan, he swam for the [[Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving]] team from 1995 to 1999, serving as team captain for the 1998–99 season. Potts was a six-time NCAA All-American swimmer while at Michigan and a two-time Big 10 individual champion. He was also a member of the Michigan track team in 1999–2000.<ref name="Rohan">{{Cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-06-23/sports/29695047_1_andy-potts-philadelphia-insurance-triathlon-triathlete|title=Swimmer diversifies into Olympic triathlete|last=Rohan|first=Tim|date=23 June 2011|publisher=Philly.com|access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref>

===2003-2006===
Potts began competing as a professional triathlete in 2003 and was named USA Triathlon Rookie of the Year. He was also the only athlete to break into the Top 100 World Rankings as a rookie.<ref name="BeijingBio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=98/bio/index.html|title=Andy Potts Bio|access-date=2011-12-06|publisher=NBC Universal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517112337/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=98/bio/index.html|archive-date=17 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Potts competed at the second Olympic triathlon at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] after only participating in the sport of triathlon for 22 months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.standard.net/topics/sports/2011/06/29/potts-found-new-adventure-triathlon-competition|title=Potts found new adventure in triathlon competition|last=Rohan|first=Tom|date=29 June 2011|publisher=Standard-Examiner|accessdate=6 December 2011}}</ref> He placed twenty-second with a total time of 1:55:36.47.<ref name="Yahoo!"/> In 2005 and 2006, Potts competed in a variety [[ITU Triathlon World Cup]] races, accumulating a number of top three podium finishes and finished out the 2006 year ranked third in the world.<ref name="ITU Results">{{Cite web|url=http://www.triathlon.org/athletes/results/andy_potts/17/|title=Andy Potts Results|publisher=International Triathlon Union|access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref><ref name="ITU Profile">{{Cite web|url=http://www.triathlon.org/athletes/profile/andy_potts/|title=Andy Potts Bio|publisher=International Triathlon Union|accessdate=6 December 2011}}</ref>  Potts was recognized as USAT Triathlete of The Year in 2006.<ref name="USAT Profile">{{cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/athletes/andy-potts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227035119/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/athletes/Andy-Potts|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2015|title=Andy Potts - USAT Athlete Profile|publisher= USA Triathlon|access-date=2022-03-24}}</ref>

===2007-2009===
In 2007, Potts won the triathlon event at the [[Triathlon at the 2007 Pan American Games|2007 Pan American Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/potts_wins_panam_games/|title=Potts wins PanAm Games|last=Davies|first=Gareth|publisher=International Triathlon Union|date=15 July 2007|access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref> Later that year, Potts would win the 2007 [[Ironman 70.3]] World Championship in Clearwater, Florida, with a time of 3:42:33.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ironmanlive.com/events/ironman70.3/worldchampionship70.3/?show=leaderboard&y=2007 |title=World Championship 70.3 |publisher=World Triathlon Corporation |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060559/http://www.ironmanlive.com/events/ironman70.3/worldchampionship70.3/?show=leaderboard&y=2007 |archivedate=2011-07-13 }}</ref> On June 27, 2010, Potts captured his first career [[Ironman Triathlon]] win in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with a winning time of 8:24:40.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://c28908.r8.cf1.rackcdn.com/2010/12/2010-CDA-Results-Book.pdf |title=Ironman Coeur d'Alene Results Book|access-date=2011-12-06|publisher=Ironman Coeur d'Alene |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426025934/http://c28908.r8.cf1.rackcdn.com/2010/12/2010-CDA-Results-Book.pdf |archivedate=26 April 2012 }}</ref> His best finish at the [[Ironman World Championship]] is a 7th-place finish at the [[2008 Ironman World Championship|2009 Championships]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ironman.com/events/ironman/worldchampionship/?show=raceresults&year=2008&format=htm|title=World Championship 2008 Results|publisher=World Triathlon Corporation|access-date=2011-12-06|archive-date=2011-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120044248/http://ironman.com/events/ironman/worldchampionship/?show=raceresults&year=2008&format=htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>  He was recognized again as USAT Triathlete of The Year in 2007 and 2008.<ref name="USAT Profile" />

===2010-2011===
After finishing the swim in 2nd place, Potts took the lead on the bike and finished [[Ironman Triathlon|Ironman]] [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]] with a strong 1st-place finish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_Corbin_tops_at_IM_CDA__1414.html|title=Potts, Corbin tops at IM CDA|last=Carlson|first=Timothy|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=June 27, 2010}}</ref>  In the fall, he set a new course record at Ironman Cozumel with a 2:52:19 marathon, the fastest time of the day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_Van_Vlerken_take_Cozumel_1815.html|title = Potts, van Vlerken take Cozumel|last=Krabel|first=Herbert|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=November 28, 2010}}</ref> Andy Potts earned victories at Ironman 70.3 New Orleans and Ironman 70.3 Boulder, and at Ironman 70.3 Timberman, he earned his third victory in as many attempts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_and_Warriner_rule_NOLA_1304.html|title=Potts and Warriner rule NOLA|last=Krabel|first=Herbert|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=April 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/Features/ROHTO_Boulder_70.3_winners_1707.html|title = ROHTO Boulder 70.3 winner|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=August 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/Features/2010_Timberman_70.3_1712.html|title = 2010 Timberman 70.3|last=Krabel|first=Herbert|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=August 24, 2010}}</ref>

In 2011 Potts had several successful performances at the half-ironman distance, including first-place finishes at Ironman 70.3 Florida, Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, and Ironman 70.3 Vineman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_Snow_take_Florida_70.3__2066.html|title = Potts, Snow take Florida 70.3|last=Carlson|first=Timothy|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=May 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_Carfrae_take_Oceanside_1979.html|title=Potts, Carfrae take Oceanside|last=Carlson|first=Timothy|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=April 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_Rollison_take_Vineman_70.3_2205.html|title = Potts, Rollison take Vineman 70.3|last=Carlson|first=Timothy|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=June 17, 2011}}</ref> He also earned victories at Philadelphia Triathlon and CapTex Triathlon in Austin, TX.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/A_2011_Philly_Tri_gallery__2155.html|title = A 2011 Philly Tri gallery|last=Krabel|first=Herbert|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=June 26, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/It_s_Potts_and_Haskins_in_Austin_2098.html|title = It's Potts and Haskins in Austin|last=Empfield|first=Dan|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=May 30, 2011}}</ref>

===2012-2016===
In 2012, Andy Potts won the Ironman 70.3 California triathlon in Oceanside, CA for the fourth time.  Later that year, Potts took first in Ironman 70.3 St. Croix in the [[US Virgin Islands]].  Potts is considered the winningest male ever to compete in the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, after having won the event for the 5th time in June 2012.  Later in the year, Potts also won Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman 70.3, and Ironman 70.3 Branson.  In 2012, he accomplished his best performance to date at the [[Ironman World Championship]] in [[Kona, Hawaii]] with a 7th-place finish as the first American.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andypottsracing.com/schedule.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-02-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129044403/http://andypottsracing.com/schedule.html |archivedate=2013-01-29 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Potts_McBride_take_70.3_Austin_3199.html|title = Potts, McBride take 70.3 Austin|last=Krabel|first=Herbert|publisher=Slowtwitch.com|access-date=2022-03-24|date=October 28, 2012}}</ref>

Potts, in 2013, won the Ironman 70.3 California triathlon in Oceanside, CA for the fifth time, edging out Jesse Thomas by 10 seconds. Potts also took first in Ironman 70.3 Eagleman, in Cambridge Maryland. Potts was the first repeat winner at Ironman Lake Placid, winning by 5 minutes over Daniel Fontana. The next year Potts won the Ironman Coeur d'Alene 140.6 On June 29, with a time of 8:25:44, edging Viktor Zyemtsev by less than three minutes. He finished fourth at the [[2014 Ironman World Championship]] in Kona, HI on October 10, 2014 in a time of 08:21:38.

Potts began the 2015 season at the inaugural Challenge Dubai with a 12th-place finish, which was a result of a penalty that occurred during the bike leg. At Ironman Oceanside 70.3, Potts earned a silver medal finishing 2nd to the reigning Oceanside champion [[Jan Frodeno]]. Potts has since put together 1st, 2nd, 1st-place finishes at New Orleans 70.3, Texas 70.3, and Chattanooga 70.3 respectively. Potts won the Ironman Coeur d'Alene 140.6 on June 28, with a time of 8:20:35.

In 2016, Potts won the Ironman Canada 140.6 on July 24, with a time of 8:20:23.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/canada/results.aspx?rd=20160724&race=canada&bidid=3&detail=1#axzz4I4dTtRi5 |title=Ironman Canada Results |website=www.ironman.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728182515/http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/canada/results.aspx?rd=20160724&race=canada&bidid=3&detail=1 |archive-date=2016-07-28}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://andypottsracing.com/}}
* {{World Triathlon}}
* {{Team USA|new_id=andy-potts-837380|old_id=PO/Andy-Potts|archive=20230606002522}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}

{{Footer Pan American Champions Triathlon Men}}
{{Footer Ironman 70.3 Triathlon World Champions men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potts, Andy}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male triathletes]]
[[Category:American male swimmers]]
[[Category:American male medley swimmers]]
[[Category:Triathletes at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic triathletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hershey, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines men's swimmers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Princeton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Princeton High School (New Jersey) alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1995 Summer Universiade]]
[[Category:Summer World University Games medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games bronze medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Triathletes at the 2007 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in triathlon]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]