Jason P. Lester
Encyclopedia
Jason P. Lester is an endurance athlete and the 2009 ESPY Award
winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability
. He is also the first challenged
athlete to compete in the Ultraman World Championships
.
. Lester lost the use of his right arm, which became partially paralyzed as a result of the accident. During the next several months he began a lengthy hospital recovery. While he was still in the hospital recovering, his father, and sole guardian, died of a heart attack
. Twelve months after the accident, he went on to continue to play baseball and football, making the all star game
with the use of only one arm. Lester continued to play sports throughout high school and college. He began to compete in running and biathlon
races at age 16 and by age 18 was ranked #2 for biathlons in the state of Arizona
.
s in Kona. To get ready for the event he trained extensively and hired a coach to teach him how to swim. During his training Lester began to notice that he was slowly regaining movement in his right arm.
In 2008, Lester became the first challenged athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships
. In June 2009, at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, Lester came in 3rd in his age group
, which qualified him to compete in the Ironman World Championships later that year. That same summer, in July 2009, Lester broke ground by becoming the first male triathlete to win an ESPY Award. In August 2009, Lester became the 25th person to complete both Ultraman Canada and Ultraman Hawaii out of 428 total competitors. In November 2009, Lester became the 15th athlete in the history of Ultraman to complete both Hawaii and Canada in the same year.
Lester is active in the development of the Never Stop Performance Center (NSPC) based in his home town of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
. The center, set to break ground in 2011, will be a place where both children and adults will receive a chance to improve their lives through athletics, helping to build a strong life mentally, physically, and spiritually, further enabling them to reach their full potential.
, featuring the works of new and established artists, including paintings from Lester’s own collection. The gallery and art career flourished and he became an internationally acclaimed artist, with many of his works and private commissions being requested by the sports clients of his past.
ESPY Awards
An ESPY Award is an accolade presented by the American cable television network ESPN to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. The first ESPYs were awarded in 1993...
winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability
Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award
The Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, known alternatively as the Outstanding Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, has been presented annually since 2005 to the male, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best athlete with a physical disability in a...
. He is also the first challenged
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
athlete to compete in the Ultraman World Championships
Ultraman (endurance challenge)
The Ultraman World Championship is a three-day, 320 mile annual endurance race held on the Big Island of Hawaii. The race is divided into three stages over three days: The first is a 6.2-mile ocean swim from Kailua Bay to Keauhou Bay, followed by a 90-mile cross-country bike ride, with vertical...
.
Early life
Lester grew up playing baseball and football. When he was twelve years old, he was hit while on his bicycle by a woman driving 70 mph who ran a red light. He was left for dead with 21 broken bones and a collapsed lungPneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...
. Lester lost the use of his right arm, which became partially paralyzed as a result of the accident. During the next several months he began a lengthy hospital recovery. While he was still in the hospital recovering, his father, and sole guardian, died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. Twelve months after the accident, he went on to continue to play baseball and football, making the all star game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
with the use of only one arm. Lester continued to play sports throughout high school and college. He began to compete in running and biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
races at age 16 and by age 18 was ranked #2 for biathlons in the state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Triathlon
In 2004, Lester competed in the Ironman World ChampionshipIronman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
s in Kona. To get ready for the event he trained extensively and hired a coach to teach him how to swim. During his training Lester began to notice that he was slowly regaining movement in his right arm.
In 2008, Lester became the first challenged athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships
Ultraman (endurance challenge)
The Ultraman World Championship is a three-day, 320 mile annual endurance race held on the Big Island of Hawaii. The race is divided into three stages over three days: The first is a 6.2-mile ocean swim from Kailua Bay to Keauhou Bay, followed by a 90-mile cross-country bike ride, with vertical...
. In June 2009, at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, Lester came in 3rd in his age group
Demographic profile
A demographic or demographic profile is a term used in marketing and broadcasting, to describe a demographic grouping or a market segment...
, which qualified him to compete in the Ironman World Championships later that year. That same summer, in July 2009, Lester broke ground by becoming the first male triathlete to win an ESPY Award. In August 2009, Lester became the 25th person to complete both Ultraman Canada and Ultraman Hawaii out of 428 total competitors. In November 2009, Lester became the 15th athlete in the history of Ultraman to complete both Hawaii and Canada in the same year.
Never Stop Foundation
In 2007, Lester founded the Never Stop Foundation. The Foundation uses athletics to teach its young participants how to think creatively about their lives - then gives them the practical skills to turn their dreams into reality. A variety of sports programs make the child the central focus with adult athletes, teachers, and counselors acting as supporters. Mid-level programs emphasize collaboration between adult and child and later programs challenge the young people to stand on their own while staying connected to the world around them. The goal is to help those in their formative years find their own true voice, help them build their confidence, improve their communication skills and learn the values of discipline, trust, compassion, self-reliance, and respect.Lester is active in the development of the Never Stop Performance Center (NSPC) based in his home town of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i
Kailua is a census-designated place in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, in the North Kona District of the Island of Hawaii. The population was 11,975 at the 2010 census. It is the center of commerce and of the tourist industry on West Hawaii...
. The center, set to break ground in 2011, will be a place where both children and adults will receive a chance to improve their lives through athletics, helping to build a strong life mentally, physically, and spiritually, further enabling them to reach their full potential.
Art
Lester is also a practicing artist, particularly in painting. Both his father and grandfather were accomplished artists. In 2001 he opened The JR Gallery in Manhattan Beach, CaliforniaManhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
, featuring the works of new and established artists, including paintings from Lester’s own collection. The gallery and art career flourished and he became an internationally acclaimed artist, with many of his works and private commissions being requested by the sports clients of his past.
Racing and endurance highlights
- EPIC5- 5 Iron Distance Triathlons | 5 Hawaiian Islands, 2010
- ESPY Award Winner - Best Male Athlete with a Disability, 2009
- Ultraman Canada, 2008 (4th place overall in the run, 2009 (14th place overall)
- Ultraman Hawaii World Championships, 2008 (24th overall), 2009 (18th overall), 2010
- Ironman Arizona, 2007, 2008
- Ironman World ChampionshipIronman World ChampionshipThe Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
, 2008, 2009 - Ironman Western AustraliaWestern AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, 2007 - 70.3 Boise, 2009
- 70.3 Honolulu, 2009 (3rd in age group, and qualified for Ironman World Championships), 2010
- Ultramarathon – Hilo to Volcano, 2008 (9th place overall)
- UItramarathon – Western States 100Western States Endurance RunThe Western States Endurance Run, known commonly as the Western States 100, is a 100-mile ultramarathon that takes place on trails in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains annually on the last full weekend of June. The race starts at the base of the Squaw Valley ski resort and finishes at the...
, 2009 (pacer) - ITU Triathlon World Championships, 2007 (6th place), 2008 (2nd in category)
- International Triathlon San Diego, 2007
- The Nautica New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Triathlon, 2007 (2nd in category) - Duathlon – Pac Crest Endurance, 2008 (3rd in age group)
- USAT (USA TriathlonUSA TriathlonUSA Triathlon is the national governing body for the multisport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USA Triathlon is a member federation of the U.S...
) PC Athlete of the Year, 2008 - USAT (USA Triathlon) PC Athlete of the Year Finalist, 2007
- Scottsdale Duathlon, 2005, (1st in age group, 2nd overall)