PERSON OF INTEREST
PEO PLE
Diane Travis Councilwoman and duathlete INTERVIEWER: CHRIS GERBASI
≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL
MONT CLER C IT Y MAN C ILW O . CO U N 2 0 14 S IN C E
VITAL STATS
• Born in Chicago; settled in Orlando in 1986. • Won gold medal at 2019 national duathlon championship and silver at worlds in 65-69 age group. • Founder of Travis Realty Group.
Best part about working in real estate? My favorite part is meeting new people, getting to know them and their families, and then helping them accomplish their goal.
How long have you competed in duathlons (runningcycling-running)? Well, my first World Championship was back in 1998 in St. Wendel, Germany, but I started doing duathlon races in Clermont in 1995 when Fred Sommer would put on a duathlon race series in the winter months. We were a much smaller
town then, and it seemed like all my friends were trying it and it looked like fun and it was easy being local across the lake from where I lived. Then, when I started competing in other U.S. cities, I met so many new friends from across the U.S.A. and I got really hooked.
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Wow, I have so many and I love all sports. Lindsay Vonn (snow skiing), Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Sarah Haskins (triathlete).
Favorite Clermont events?
toughest challenges is determining what is good for the whole city and how it will impact our future. It is tough and you can’t please everyone, you just do the best you can.
L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 1 9
hamburger is always a favorite. It could accompany a beer or glass of wine.
Favorite athlete?
Toughest part of the city council? One of the
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Favorite post-race meal? A large
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Taste of South Lake and the Gran Fondo cycling event.
Three words to describe you? Fun, intense, happy.
Pet peeve? Negative people.
Most prestigious victory? I
have won the USA Nationals before, but the World Championships I have medaled in I would say are the most prestigious because of the increased competition. This year’s silver medal in the World Championships was very rewarding because getting older, it doesn’t get any easier.
person of interest recommendations to chris@akersmediagroup.com
