Tatum Barber—DVI’s own Junior Editor and resident award-winning athlete—has qualified for an October paratriathlon training event, Camp Catapult, as part of her pursuit of increased triathlon training and competition. This recent foray into triathlon competition is part of her larger athletic path and ultimate journey to the Paralympic Games in 2024!
About Camp Catapult
Camp Catapult is a tailored fitness program that runs for 3 days, providing USA Triathlon-sanctioned training for athletes and making use of both USA Paratriathlon coaches and expert para-athletes for instruction. The opportunity comes after Tatum raced in her first sprint triathlon over the weekend of September 14th. During camp, Tatum is excited to learn, train, and get “individualized, hands on experience from some of the big coaches and athletes in the sport.” Although she’s already competed in a sprint triathlon, she still considers herself a beginner in triathlon competition and is excited to grow as she competes more.
Wheelchair Racing & Para-Powerlifting
In addition to her triathlon endeavors, Tatum is also actively competing in wheelchair racing and exploring the sport of para-powerlifting. She’s preparing to leave for Camp Catapult from October 3rd-6th, but shortly after camp, she’s turning back around and competing in her first marathon in late October and her first half-marathon in December. She also recently attended a scouting camp at the USA Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for powerlifting and throws.
WheelWOD CrossFit Games
One area in which she’s no novice, though, is in CrossFit competition:
Tatum placed 3rd in the world at the 2018 WheelWOD CrossFit Games and 3rd at the 2019 CrossFit Wodapalooza Fitness Festival. She is continually training and competing in CrossFit events, aiming for gold at Wodapalooza 2020!
Throughout competitions and training, Tatum has received guidance, coaching, and logistics support from the incredible team at The Shepherd Center, an Atlanta-based rehabilitation hospital with a fantastic sports branch. Tatum races with the Shepherd Spinners Racing Team, representing both the team and organization while she’s out on the track.
Tatum’s athletic quest isn’t unlike the creative quest she undergoes every day as an editor with DVI: like physical muscles, artistic and editing skills are muscles that must be strengthened, primed, and shaped over time.
One of Tatum’s biggest triumphs on the job was her editing work on the Mercedes-Benz USA OwnerCare video series, where she enjoyed creative control in shaping an informative and stylish group of videos…but delivering the final, polished video of a series took time and attention on her part.
Make no mistake—we’re a company full of spirited, naturally talented people, and we have plenty of fun together! But when our doors open for the day, it’s time to buckle up and exercise our drive to always “make it better.”
Art takes discipline. It takes determination. It takes training.
And perhaps no one better exemplifies discipline inside and outside the office than Tatum.
Follow her current CrossFit Wodapalooza global Leaderboard journey here by selecting the Women’s Adaptive Seated category. We’re wishing her the very best as she competes in Wodapalooza 2020, in all her many other sports and events, and as she turns her eyes towards Paris 2024!