COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Track & Field student-athlete Austin Hindman (Wildwood, Mo.) has decided to forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and turn professional, as the 2016 Triathlon Junior World Champion announced his signing with Project Podium on Wednesday. Hindman will shift his focus to the triathlon at Project Podium, which is a development program team within the USA Triathlon Federation.
Hindman claimed gold in the triathlon at the 2016 International Triathlon Union's World Championships in Cozumel, Mexico, where he won the 750m swim, 20k bike ride and 5k run with a time of 54:02. He became just the third American to win the event at the junior world level since it began as a competition in 1990, following Steve Duplinsky in 2005 and Lukas Verzbicas in 2011. Hindman competed in the triathlon at the junior level again at the 2017 ITU World Championships, where he finished 29th with a time of 58:06.
"I have been provided a tremendous opportunity to be included in an Olympic development program 'Project Podium' with USA Triathlon," said Hindman. "With this, I have made the decision to leave my Mizzou family in hopes of achieving my dream of becoming an Olympic athlete. I am so grateful to Mizzou, Coach Burns, Coach Halter, the athletic staff and my team for all their support over the past year. Although I am excited to pursue my triathlon development, I will always cherish my time at Mizzou and will miss being a part of this great team."
"We are thrilled for Austin and the opportunity that has been presented to him by USA Triathlon and others to train full time for the triathlon while funding his education through the completion of his degree," said head coach Brett Halter. "Pursuing an Olympic berth in triathlon for Team USA has been a dream of Austin's for many years. It will be thrilling for his Mizzou family to watch his development over the years ahead. We certainly wish him all the best."
"We at USA Triathlon are excited to have Austin pursuing triathlon full-time again," said Project Podium coach Parker Spencer. "Project Podium was created for the specific purpose of continuing the trajectory an athlete such as Austin has had in the sport. As a former Junior World Champion, we believe Austin has what it takes to not just make an Olympic team but be one of the best Olympic triathletes we have had represent the United States. We look forward to what we all will accomplish together in the future."
Hindman competed during the cross country and indoor seasons in his lone season at Mizzou, earning All-SEC Freshman team honors at the SEC Indoor Championships as the top freshman finisher in the 3000m run where he finished 16th at 8:21.48.
The Wildwood, Mo., native joined Mizzou following an extremely successful prep career at Lafayette High School where he won nine state titles and was named the 2016-17 Gatorade Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. He set two Missouri state records in the 5k (XC) and 3200m run, clocking a time of 15:04.40 in the 5k at the 2016 Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional and a time of 8:43.40 in the 3200m at the Arcadia Invitational in April 2017.
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