Rudy Garcia-Tolson was eight years old the first time he met Robin Williams at the 1997 Malibu Triathlon. With the typical inhibition of an 8-year-old boy, Garcia-Tolson immediately asked Williams if he’d like to be on his relay team for the upcoming San Diego Triathlon Challenge put on by Challenged Athletes Foundation. Williams said yes.
And thus was born Team Braveheart. “We connected right away,” remembers Garcia-Tolson. “That first triathlon I did a 1.2-mile swim, he biked 56 miles, and Scott Tinley ran 13.1 miles.
Team Braveheart at the CAF’s San Diego Triathlon Challenge in 1998. Runner Scott Tinley, swimmer Rudy Garcia-Tolson, and biker Robin Williams. Photo courtesy of Challenged Athletes Foundation
“Robin wasn’t too knowledgeable about challenged athletes at that point. He asked a lot of questions about my legs, like how much they weighed, etc. He was truly interested. After that first relay in 1998, he came back every year,” said Garcia-Tolson. “Every year I was growing up and going through phases, but every year we always expected the best out of each other as athletes.”
Both Williams and Garcia-Tolson were serious athletes. A double above-the-knee amputee, Garcia-Tolson was the only two-sport athlete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, where he competed in both swimming and track & field. He won a silver medal in the 200 IM in London, breaking the S7 world record (which he had set in Beijing in 2008) in prelims. He won gold in that event in both Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
Williams was just as serious about his cycling. “A lot of people don’t know that Robin loved the sport of cycling. He rode at least 100 miles per week. He took it very seriously,” explained Garcia-Tolson.
Tag off at 2005 San Diego Triathlon Challenge. Rudy Garcia-Tolson comes in from the swim; Robin Williams about to being biking. Photo courtesy of Challenged Athletes Foundation.
The two Braveheart teammates also became good friends. They both enjoyed video games and “looked forward to hanging out together” at the San Diego Triathlon each year. “He was always laughing, always smiling. He loved making people laugh,” reminisced Garcia-Tolson.
“I am honored to be able to share my experiences with Robin. But for me the most important thing is his family. My heart goes out to them; they lost a husband a father.”
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Rudy Garcia-Tolson did not compete at the recent Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships in Pasadena, California. He was competing in his second Ironman in Germany. (Garcia-Tolson became the first bilateral above-knee amputee to complete an Ironman when he finished the Arizona Ironman in 2009.)
Garcia-Tolson is now beginning to turn his focus to Rio 2016. Ideally he would compete in swimming, track & field (long jump) and triathlon but, he explains: “my plan will be determined by the schedule. For London, the [swimming and track & field] trials were one month apart.” In the meantime is training in the pool and on the track. For more information, follow him here.
Photo courtesy of Tim Mantoani Photography, 2014.
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San-Diego based Challenged Athletes Foundation puts on events to raise awareness and money to provide sporting equipment for challenged athletes. CAF wrote on their Facebook page:
“We are deeply saddened by recent news of the passing of our longtime friend Robin Williams. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all his fans. Over the past 20 years, Robin has been an incredible supporter of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and our mission, participating in our San Diego Triathlon Challenge for 11 years and joining many of our cycling events. He truly found joy in participating side-by-side with our challenged athletes and we cannot thank him enough for the support and energy he brought to our organization.”
Robin and Pete Carroll were classmates are Redwood high school
Robin was also a sub 2 minute 880 runner in high school. Definitely an athlete!
Everyone, just take solace in the knowledge that Robin has gleefully already dispatched the flock of pigeons to find JG’s car.
Some real smart people commenting here. Not sure what all they had to do with Robin. Perhaps a bit self indulgent, maybe. I can’t tell.
For Robin I’m crying. I mourn the passing of a beautiful soul. May you rest in peace Robin.
I hope his family and children find peace.
We might never see another so kind, funny and loved by so many people. In the end, his demos won. We all lose…
This is a swim site not Law Review or Medical Journal. Great to see what Rudy Garcia-Tolson has accomplished since 1998 and his part in this great sport that has done much for many as myself. He was able to have this connection to a great comedian and probably is quite saddened at this time. All this other talk belongs somewhere else.
JG, you need to work on your reading skills. I wasn’t referring to Sophie’s Choice. I pointed you to Styron’s memoir, Darkness Visible. And since you like to keep score, I also didn’t say you hadn’t read it. In fact, I acknowleged that you might have.
My final two cents on this goes to you, Anne Lepesant. You wrote a nice piece about how Robin made an impact on Rudy and CAF. Thanks for that.
Good luck to you, Rudy! I will now be looking for your name and cheering you on.
I have indeed read both but I follow the Jungian model & have since I read my first tract at 13 in the library.
If people cannot find something in all of life’s vast aspects then there is no help you can give. Take on everything & anything . I prefer the song I beg your pardon , I never promised you a rose garden ‘ .over Styron’s blabbing.
I also like the Human Garbage label by Dave & I am taking it on . From JG to HG .
Life is fun .no?
U have no compassion ? too bad for your heart ! a shame indeed .
JG: I agree with you that you are not depressive (sic). Your mental illness seems to be more along the lines of personality disorder with psychotic features.
Please do not feed the sick trolls!
That Happy American psychology thang did not work for Williams did it ? He ought to have embraced Jung – which includes facing the dark. Or he could have watched Cabaret – it was all there , which is why Liza is still with us . Few have done show biz harder than she .
JG, I can tell you’re intelligent but you’re not going to win any awards for compassion. If you haven’t read it, read Darkness Visible, a memoir about battling Depression by William Styron, who also wrote Sophie’s Choice. Perhaps after that your brain and heart will find more of a balance.
Why do you think I have not read it ? Sophie’s Choice was a vehicle to create someone whose plight might have a foundation / rationale unlike his . He felt guilty that he could find no reason for his black dog.
I particularly noted the comedy angle . There is even a long Wikipedia entry ‘comedians who committed suicide’ & the first one I opened was the guy from Family Feud who again hung himself amidst divorce & financial problems . This appears to be a favoured method – though I can report back on the rest of them .
I fail to see why an objective & context understanding is not A variant on the compassion chart. Someone… Read more »