Owen Cravens

Name: Owen Cravens

Classification: PTVI

Birthday: June 6, 2003

Hometown: Algonquin, Ill.

Current residence: Tempe, Ariz.

High School: Huntley High School '21

College: Arizona State University '25

Personal

Owen Cravens grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his parents, Jerry and Deidra, and older sisters, Allison and Jenna. Cravens grew up playing soccer until he was diagnosed with Stargardt Disease, a juvenile form of macular degeneration. He was introduced to triathlon through the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Owen is studying business at Arizona State University. In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Owen trained with USA Triathlon's elite development squad, Project Podium, joining Chris Hammer as the first two paratriathletes to join the program led by coach Parker Spencer. Along with being a Challenged Athletes Foundation athlete, Owen supports the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Bear Necessities, Dare2Tri and the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Owen has a dog, Bismark, who he got for his 13th birthday from the Huntley Animal House, in addition to Messi, who is also a rescue dog. Both dogs give him opportunities to get outside, go on nature walks and hikes and play fetch.

Owen credits his family in helping him compete in triathlons. He also credits many others including Kateri Gullifor, Aaron Scheiddies, Dare2Tri, who taught him how to train in tandem, CAF, through camps and funding, high school running coaches, teammates and friends, and his Project Podium teammates and coach, Parker Spencer. He also credits Ben Hoffman, his guide for Paris, in learning the art of racing! In 2025, Owen will race with guide Kevin McDowell, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic medalist.

Elite Triathlon Career

2024: 2024 Americas Triathlon Para Championships Miami, 1st place • 2024 World Triathlon Para Series Yokohama, 3rd place • 2024 World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon, 4th place • 2024 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea, 2nd place • Placed fourth in his Paralympic debut with his guide, Ben Hoffman.

2023: 2023 Americas Triathlon Para Championships Sarasota, 1st place • 2023 World Triathlon Para Series Devonport, 7th place • 2023 World Triathlon Para Series Yokohama, 1st place • 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Long Beach, 1st place • 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Paris, 3rd place • 2023 World Triathlon Para Championships Pontevedra, 4th place individual, 7th place Mixed Relay.

2022: 2022 Americas Triathlon Para Championships Sarasota-Bradenton, 2nd place • 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Yokohama, 2nd place • 2022 World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon, 3rd place • 2022 World Triathlon Para Cup A Coruna, 2nd place • 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Montreal, 7th place • 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea, 7th place • 2022 World Triathlon Para Championships Abu Dhabi, 8th place individual, 2nd place Mixed Relay.

2021: 2021 Americas Triathlon Para Championships Pleasant Prairie, 4th place • 2021 World Triathlon Para Championships Abu Dhabi.

2019: 2019 Sarasota-Bradenton CAMTRI Paratriathlon American Championships, 5th place • 2019 USA Paratriathlon National Championships, 3rd place.