VIDEO: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Kaitlin Shriver Donner Among World’s Best Triathletes

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame

WATCH: Kaitlin Shriver Donner began racing triathlon professionally while finishing her bachelor’s in Exercise Physiology, and starting Physical Therapy school at the University of Florida. Since then, she has graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and qualified for the USA Triathlon National Team.

2016 PROFESSIONAL INDUCTEE

Won the Elite Women 2015 World Cup, Crossing the Finish Line With a Time of 1:00:18

SATELLITE HIGH GRADUATE

While there are several different types and distances for triathlon races, one thing is guaranteed — all are grueling to compete in and all of them test the body, mind and spirit of an individual’s resolve like nothing else in sports or in life can.

There is also something else you can bank on when talking about the athletes that are competing in triathlons these days. Satellite High and University of Florida Graduate Kaitlin Shriver Donner is one of the best in the world at all of them.

Donner’s parents, Kathleen and Randall Shiver, provided the seeds to which Kaitlin’s career began to sprout. Both were and still are very active, and Kaitlin and sisters Ashley and Nicole grew up watching them compete in marathon running.

According to Kaitlin, she and her sisters were never forced to compete, but the rule of the house was we had to do something active after school instead of sitting on the couch. Kaitlin ended up swimming competitively quite young and took up running at Satellite High.

While at Satellite, Donner was a winner and there began the seeds of what was to become a professional career as a triathlete. Donner earned high school All-America honors in 2007 with a sixth-place finish in the mile at the National Scholastic Indoor Championship.

She was named All-Space Coast Track Athlete of the Year in 2007 and won the Class 3A state title in the 1600m.

She was a three-time Cape Coast Conference 800m champion and finished third in 800m at Class 3A state championships in 2005 and 2006. Donner was also a Three-time Cape Coast Conference cross country champion and was an All-Space Coast track and cross country honoree all four years.

She led Satellite Beach to Class 3A cross country titles in 2005 and 2006 and also swam in high school qualifying for the state meet in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle.

Donner was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in 2004. During her senior year, Donner accepted a cross country/track and field scholarship to the University of Florida.

At the University of Florida, she competed on the NCAA qualifying cross country team in 2008 and 2009 while specializing in the 1500m on the track, qualifying for NCAA Regionals in 2008.

In the summer of 2009, Donner earned her elite license in triathlon by winning Age Group Nationals, which lead her to pursue triathlon at the professional level and forgo her senior year running eligibility at UF.

TRAINING TO COMPETE IN OLYMPICS

Donner began racing triathlon professionally while finishing her bachelor’s in Exercise Physiology, and starting Physical Therapy school at UF.

Since then, she has graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and qualified for the USA Triathlon National Team.

Donner was the 2011 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Champion and 2011-12 USA Triathlon Under-23 National Champion. She was also the 2012 USA Triathlon Under-23 Athlete of the Year, the 2014 USA Triathlon Elite National Championships Runner Up and the 2014 USA Triathlon Elite Sprint National Championship podium finisher.

Donner won the Elite Women 2015 World Cup, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:00:18 – her New Zealand win was the first World Cup title of her career.

Kaitlin Shiver became Kaitlin Donner when she married fellow elite triathlete Ed Donner, who is helping Kaitlin train to reach her ultimate goal of representing the United States at the Olympics.

Kaitlin’s motto in life is “Balance, everything in moderation” – she can now add Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer to list of things that must be balanced in a life already filled with accomplishment.

TO MAKE A NOMINATION FOR THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

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