Triathlete Trinity Waters Excels with Apex Learning Virtual School

Most people would probably find the idea of swimming 500 meters, biking 10 kilometers followed by a three-mile run in the heat of summer to be an exhausting feat. But 15-year-old Trinity Waters not only thrives on triathlons, she competes in nearly 10 of these athletic events every summer.

Her inspiration to participate in triathlons is undoubtedly from her father, who has competed in these events most of his life.

“When I was little, my dad would set up mini races for me to compete with my neighbor,” she said. “That definitely inspired me, and I ended up doing my first triathlon when I was nine.”

“It’s really important to me to get a good education. I was impressed with the resources available to students at Apex Learning Virtual School, including the teacher-led courses and the online tutors. The tutors have been really helpful for me!”

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Trinity has dual citizenship in the United States. Her father is American, and her mother is South Korean. They regularly travel to the United States to see their family in Nashville, Tennessee, where she spends a lot of time with her grandparents.

On one visit when she was younger, she discovered a local certified USA Triathlon club, AERO, where she could pursue high-performance triathlons. Joining this group has allowed her to pursue the sport more seriously.

“Participating in high performance triathlons can set you on the path to becoming a pro athlete or going to the Olympics,” said Trinity. “But making it to the Olympics is not really my goal. I enjoy doing triathlons, and I plan to pursue them as a hobby. I want to continue to improve my scores and compete in triathlons all around the world for fun to meet new people and make lasting memories.”

Living in Costa Rica, Trinity’s parents who can work from anywhere, have always been passionate about having the flexibility to travel, spend time outside and socialize with friends and family. When they were unhappy with the schools in Costa Rica, it was an easy decision to homeschool Trinity.

To support her athletic endeavors and their family’s flexible lifestyle was one of the most important factors, but they also wanted to use a high-quality curriculum that would provide Trinity with a great education.

“I’ve always been homeschooled, but once I got to high school, we wanted to be sure I was enrolled in an accredited school with NCAA-approved courses,” said Trinity. “It’s really important to me to get a good education. I was impressed with the resources available to students at Apex Learning Virtual School, including the teacher-led courses.”

Although this year has been unusual for triathlon season and travel, Trinity hopes things will get back to normal so she can begin competing again next year. She’s been spending her days surfing and playing volleyball, but she misses the excitement of competitions. And she’s already starting to think about her plans for the future.

“After high school, I want to attend a liberal arts university in the United States,” she said. “I’m not exactly sure what I want to do as a career, but I hope to get a triathlon scholarship and then get an awesome job.”