CYMON KERSCH

Cymon Kersch grew up swimming in Portland, Oregon and swam at the University of Puget Sound. After graduation, Cymon traveled and completed a Master of Science program at Texas A&M, studying mosquitos that pass on Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever. In search of a new athletic outlet, she tried a local triathlon, but found she didn’t have time to learn how to both bike and run while completing her degree.

Over the next few years, Cymon dabbled in long distance running, loving the opportunity to explore rather than stare at the black line on the bottom of the pool…over and over again. In 2012, Cymon started the MD/PhD program at Oregon Health and Sciences University. Although she continued running through the first few years of her dual degree program, by summer 2016, Cymon was ready for a new adventure. Cymon won her first local Olympic distance triathlon, started training with coach Shawn Bostad, and placed 6th in her age group the next month at the USAT National Championships.

In 2017, Cymon won her age group at both the USAT Triathlon National Championships (Olympic distance) and the USAT Duathlon National Championships (sprint distance); grabbed silver overall in the draft legal sprint duathlon world championship qualifier race; finished sixth (top American) in her age group at the ITU World Championships (Olympic distance triathlon); and wrapped up the year playing in the mud and learning to fall with grace in a local cyclocross race series. Although sidelined by injury for much of 2018, Cymon earned her pro card and looks forward to a fast 2019 season. She trains with the Portland Triathlon Club and the BATWomen and works as an MD/PhD at OHSU in radiology.