True Grit: Olympian Morgan Pearson ’11

Olympian Morgan Pearson ’11

By Jessica Fiddes

Born in Washington, DC and raised in New Vernon, NJ, Morgan Pearson ’11 followed his older brother Andrew ’09 to Delbarton for 7th grade. Their younger twin brothers, Trevor ’14 and John ’14 soon followed. Like Andrew, Morgan continued to swim competitively for Berkeley Aquatic Club but also tried other sports like lacrosse and hockey. In 9th grade he began specializing in Cross Country and Track, and credits former Delbarton Track Head Coach John Barnicle for inspiring his love of running. By senior year at Delbarton, Pearson had won the 3,000-meter event at the Penn Relays, and the 3,200 meters at 2010 NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Recruited to run for Duke University, his parent’s alma mater, he quickly realized that the coaching wasn’t a good fit. He transferred to University of Colorado, where Bernardsville native Mark Wetmore was head coach, to run for a program that matched his objectives. Always a focused competitor and student, Pearson graduated from UC Boulder as a 7-time All American with a combined degree in Economics and Math. Twice he had helped his UC Boulder Cross Country teams win NCAA Champion titles. After graduation, he worked a few odd jobs while strategizing how to build a career as a professional athlete. Looking for a multisport event that incorporated running, Pearson emailed his race times to the USA Triathlon’s (USAT) Collegiate Recruitment Program which immediately replied by sending him a bike – a quick yes – so he got to work training as a triathlete. The Olympic triathlon is comprised of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10K run. Pearson had swum competitively since 3rd grade and running was his strength. Putting his new bike to work, he successfully added cycling to his competitive arsenal. Boulder-based endurance coach Bobby McGee believed in Pearson, telling him he had the potential to make the cut for the 2020 Olympics. “When you think you can be one of the best in the world at something, you’re attracted to doing it.” McGee has good instincts: In 2017, Pearson won USA Triathlon’s Age-Group Sprint National Championships. He turned pro in 2018, and finished 7th at his first pro World Cup race, beating the USA’s top-ranked athlete at the time. In March, 2020, at the height of the Covid global pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed to summer 2021. Pearson continued to train hard and dream of making it to the Olympics.

Pearson remembers his Green Wave teammates with great affection. From left in 2010, Morgan Pearson '11, Pat Schellberg '10, Jules Hislop '13 and Dan Kearney '10.

Tragically, one year later, on March 1, 2021, his beloved brother Andrew died in his sleep at age 29 of an undiagnosed heart ailment. Taking March off to mourn Andrew’s passing, Morgan resumed training and on May 15, earned his first career World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) medal, a bronze in Yokohama, Japan, automatically earning him a spot at the Tokyo Games. In a few short years, he had qualified as a triathlete for his first Olympic Games. Three weeks later, he made history by winning a silver medal in Leeds, England to become the first U.S. man ever to earn multiple medals at the WTCS level.

He entered the 2020 Olympics Triathlon event ranked 2nd in the world, and believing he had a chance to medal. He told a reporter, “I am in really good shape, and I know I have the ability to medal. I am still relatively new to the sport, but I am telling myself I am a savvy veteran.” Three weeks before the Olympics, physically and emotionally he was in the best shape of his life and ready to excel. Family and friends were banned from attending the Tokyo, Olympics, and he was determined to give his family back home something to celebrate. But fate and luck had other ideas. Prior to boarding the flight to Tokyo, Pearson down with a cold. On race day, July 26, at Tokyo's Odaiba Marine Park, he was starting to feel better, but soon realized something was off. He tried to be smart on the swim and bike, hoping his body might come around. But it never did, not like he needed it to, not even during the run, his strongest discipline, so he was forced to change his focus. Now his goal was to finish in competitive enough shape for the Mixed Relay Triathlon six days later. He finished the individual event 42nd overall, 7 minutes 1 second behind winner Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway. He later tweeted, “July 26: Rough day today. Was feeling awful the entire race – but that is sport and I refuse to make any excuses. I am very sad right now and feeling a bit embarrassed. We still have the relay next weekend, so I’m going to do my best to put today behind me and prepare for the relay.” After the individual race, the hard physical effort literally had shocked his system into feeling slightly better, but the race had taken its toll and even a world class competitor can have doubts. “Mentally, I was extremely down on myself and

nervous,” Pearson says, but his Mixed Relay teammates Taylor Knibb, Kevin McDowell and Katie Zaferes, rallied around to help him rebuild confidence. By July 31, Mixed Relay race day, he was feeling more like himself. The Relay was a new addition to the Olympic program, pitting teams of two men and two women to complete a shorter, sprint-like course (300-meter swim, 6.8K bike, 2K run), then tag a teammate.

Pearson was the anchor, so he warmed up and tried to remain calm while the event was underway. “I could tell my teammates were going to be in a really good position,” he says, which of course made him even more nervous. At the hand off, he was in second place, 20 seconds behind Great Britain and just 11 seconds up on France. “You can imagine how nervous I was knowing that we had a good chance at an Olympic Medal but it all came down to me!”

French anchor Vincent Luis was the best swimmer in the sport, so Pearson swam hard but conservatively, figuring Luis would likely close the gap. “In my mind if he caught me, and we worked together on the bike to close the lead to first, it would give me a chance to win the race.” His strategy worked, and the two men exited transitions together on the bike. They both took hard turns on their bikes, then Pearson made a mistake: he adjusted his bike shoe when he was in front –which was all it took for Luis to attack and create a gap. No time to panic: Pearson rode as hard, smart and aerodynamically as he could, trying to avoid unnecessary risks while protecting his position. “There were moments when I probably could have caught on to France and Great Britain, but I didn’t want to take any risks.” If he could just get off the bike close to French and British competitors, the USA would likely win a medal. Running is always Pearson’s strongest event. Getting off the bike, Great Britain and France both had a lead but, running as hard as he could, he succeeded in passing France for the silver. “Morgan Pearson’s stirring anchor leg helps U.S. win silver in mixed relay triathlon’s Olympics debut”, reported USA Today. As he approached the finish line, Pearson’s teammates rushed to embrace him a group hug and, moments later, the foursome accepted their Olympic Silver Medals at the podium. He called his greatest supporter, his mother

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On May 15, Morgan earned his first career World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) medal, a bronze in Yokohama, Japan, automatically earning him a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

In 2017, Pearson won USA Triathlon’s Age-Group Sprint National Championships.

Qualifying for the Olympics was his life’s dream, but Pearson’s first Olympic event, the Men’s Triathlon, was a disappointment. In addition to battling a head cold prior to race day, during the event he was subject to a 15-second penalty for not placing his swim cap properly in his box in the transition area.

At the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) in Yokohama, Japan, Pearson was outside the top-20 after the swim, joined a chase group on the bike, and brought home a bronze medal with his speed and endurance on the run leg.

Morgan Pearson ’11 at Delbarton in August 2021 with his greatest supporter, his mother Christine Pearson

P’09, ’11, ’14.

Christine Pearson, who was watching the televised event from home in New Jersey with a small gathering of family and friends.

In addition to contributing his superb athletic skills to the USA effort, her son had also shared some design savvy: Anticipating torrid Tokyo conditions, Pearson helped USA Federation create a special lightweight suit to keep the team cool, and designed unique aero-bars, devices cyclists use to minimize aerodynamic drag and maximize speed. Training, discipline, mental toughness — and luck — combined to make the Summer Olympics in Tokyo a true Succisa Virescit saga for Morgan Pearson. After a quick campus visit in August, he returned to Delbarton in early December to share his classic Olympic story during a Morning Meeting assembly where Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd presented him with The Delbarton Medal, the school’s highest honorarium, to add to his growing collection. Today, Pearson lives and trains in Broomfield, Colorado and maintains a rigorous daily regime: an 8-mile morning run with hill sprints, a 2-hour midday bike ride, then a 5,000-meter evening speed swim. He also lifts twice a week. Colorado’s high-altitude training is a plus: his blood contains increased hemoglobin, allowing him to carry more oxygen during sea level competitions. He eats a simple diet high in carbs and protein: Oatmeal for breakfast, eggs and rice for lunch, and chicken with pasta for dinner with a daily kale smoothie and protein shakes when lifting. No magic, just lots of hard work, good food — and a great attitude. “I’m very lucky,” he says. “I consider my job to be very fun.” In season, outside entertainment comes from non-active things like going to a movie, hanging with friends, or cooking dinner with his girlfriend. Off season, he returns home to New Jersey to spend time at the beach in Spring Lake, NJ where he and his three brothers once worked as ocean lifeguards. Of his former Delbarton Coach John Barnicle he says, “I’ve had some other great coaches along the way, but something about the way he coached made cross country so much fun.” He also remembers his Green Wave teammates like Pat Schellberg ‘10, Jules Hislop ‘13 and Dan Kearney ‘10

Morgan with good friends at Graduation 2011. From left, Pat

Toolan ’11, Adam Suczewski ’11,

Morgan Pearson ’11 and

Patrick O’Meara ’11.

with great affection. Getting lost together on the paths in Lewis Morris State Park was a bonding experience. Pearson always had a unique intensity and Barnicle recalls, “Morgan was a special guy when it came to competition, very focused and fearless.”

Pearson’s advice to young athletes is to be positive, believe in yourself — and “It’s not supposed to be easy!” His older brother is never far from his mind. “Andrew was the reason I started running Cross Country and also why I kept swimming in high school until I graduated from Delbarton. I wouldn’t have been at the Olympics in the first place if it wasn’t for him.”

He learned some important lessons at Delbarton, including humility. “The Delbarton community, especially the monks, constantly preaches it and in my time there I probably took it for granted.” He was especially touched by a Delbarton classmate who messaged ‘Succisa Virescit’ during the Olympics between the individual and mixed relay races. “It really meant a lot, not only the message of coming back stronger for the relay but also to have guys from high school reaching out. Delbarton is a special community.” What does the future hold for Morgan Pearson beyond sports? Maybe an MBA from a top ten program, and possibly a career in a sports-related business. But for now, he looks ahead to the 2024 Olympics in Paris and continues to focus on his quest to become the number one triathlete in the world.

Pearson is greeted by his Mixed Relay teammates at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on July 31, 2021 after the foursome won the Silver Medal.