I met Bill Carlson many years ago at one of the early IDAA conferences (IDAA: International Diabetes Athletes Association, started by Paula Harper in Arizona in the 1990’s). I was in awe and I was surrounded by other amazing super athletes. I, of course, was not ever an elite athlete! But we all had Type 1 diabetes in common.
Bill Carlson Returns to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, by Blair Ryan for A Sweet Life, 6 October 2016, details the career of this T1 legend.
In 1983, Bill Carlson made history when he became the world’s first person with Type 1 diabetes to complete the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
In an age when people using insulin were discouraged from doing strenuous exercise, Bill was one of a thousand World Championship competitors to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a full marathon. He did it in thirteen hours, twenty minutes–45 minutes of that time was spent on medical checks.
To people with diabetes everywhere, Bill Carlson was immortalized as a pioneer. He used the world’s stage to show us that there’s no type of exercise a person with diabetes shouldn’t do, as long as they’re willing to control their condition.
And he’s making a come back in Kona, at the age of 55, being cheered on by his 19 year old son, Clayton (also a T1) and his wife Suzanne who is battling Hodgkins Lymphoma.
You go, Bill!!!
Read more: Bill Carlson Returns to the Ironman World Championship in Kona
I met you years ago in Northridge at a gym with my daughter Marla. You helped us with a workout routine. We went to several foot races with you. I have found some great pictures of you and a newspaper article I think you would like. Please call or email me.
Shelley, I sent you an email … I think you are looking for Bill Carlson … I don’t have an email for him. So sorry!