Registration Open For GEMS Kids Triathlon At Greenwich High School

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS) second annual GEMS Kids Triathlon is scheduled for June 12 at Greenwich High School, and registration is now open.

The triathlon will again be a fun community event for local youth, ages 6-14, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, building self-confidence and fostering important life skills.

"In 2019 for the first GEMS Kids Triathlon there was overwhelming community support and interest with over 125 participants," said GEMS Executive Director Tracy Schietinger in a news release. "We’re excited to once again offer an event that is both fun and challenges kids physically. Proceeds from the event will support the life-saving work we do at GEMS and raise much needed funds that will help replace or refurbish equipment or possibly even a new ambulance."

While the event is not connected to the Greenwich kids triathlon that ended in 2016, the idea to bring back a youth triathlon to Greenwich stems from the popularity of the original event.

The GEMS Kids Triathlon will include prizes, refreshments and entertainment for participants and their families. It is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event consisting of three races: swimming, cycling, and running - in that order.

The swim will take place in the GHS pool, the bike ride will be in the both the GHS parking lots and around the school and running will be on GHS athletic fields.

The race begins promptly at 8 a.m., with participants required to be onsite by 7 a.m.

To participate, children must be 6 years old by Dec. 31, 2022 and can be no older than 14 years old by Dec. 31, 2022, as per USAT sanctioning. This means that 5-year-olds can participate if they are turning 6 in 2022, and that the age cutoff would not include teens that are turning 15 at some point in 2022. Registration closes on June 10 and day of registration is not available.

Aside from youth participation, there are additional ways to support the event and GEMS.

"Volunteers are needed before and during the triathlon," Schietinger added. "Over 100 volunteers are necessary to ensure the event will run smoothly."

You can sign up for a specific volunteer position on thehere. Positions range from course set-up to check-in, racer marking/bib help, to help needed at all of the stations. Sponsorship opportunities are still available as well and are yet another way to support the triathlon.

As a not-for-profit, all triathlon proceeds will go towards continuing GEMS’ high quality lifesaving services and helping fund emergency vehicles and essential medical equipment.

The mission of GEMS is to provide the highest level of pre-hospital emergency medical care to reduce the risk of death and disability due to trauma and sudden illness. GEMS operates 24/7 out of four stations with eight of seven state-of-the-art ambulances.

From May 2020 through April 2021, GEMS responded to 5,399 calls and transported 3,250 patients, arriving, on average, within less than five minutes to all emergency calls.

For more information about the GEMS Kids Triathlon, visit the event website or contact Pat O’Connor: 203-637-7505, GEMSKidsTri@greenwichems.org. Visit GEMS' website for additional information about the organization.