In the five short years since Keith Dickson of Aurora started the Multisport Madness Kids Triathlon Team (MMK), the team has grown to 55 youth athletes age 7 to 23. The team is most proud of winning the overall team competition at the USA Triathlon National Championships for two consecutive years (2005 and 2006) in both the Youth and the Junior Championship divisions.

Contributing to these dominating team victories were some equally incredible individual accomplishments. Over its short history, MMK has had one Heisman High School Trophy winner, six USAT All-American triathletes and five individual USAT National Champions. Last year alone, MMK kids won two individual National Championships, had twelve kids age 13 to 15 ranked in the top 20 nationally and five seniors (age 16 to 19) ranked in the top 20 nationally. Many of kids started as 10- or 11-year-olds when the club was first founded five years ago.

Their current goals are only more challenging. MMK hopes to put a child athlete on the World Championship Team by 2009. Along the way, they hope to repeat as National Champions this season and to increase the speed and experience of their seniors.

"I feel like we are stronger this year than we've ever been," says Keith Dickson, founder, owner and general manager of the team. Keith's goal is "to provide the talented kid who works hard the opportunity to go all the way." He does this by finding funding, sponsorship and volunteers, and by determining the team's mission and focus.

So what does it take to be a Multisport Madness Kid? Work-hard work. The older kids train 14 to 16 hours per week building their base in the off-season. They train 20 to 22 hours a week during the summer.

"It usually starts with a swimmer," Keith notes. The older kids race in draft-legal triathlon where top swimming is required to catch the lead bike group for the main portion of the race. For the senior team, Keith is always on the lookout for very talented kids that have the desire to give it their best effort. The developmental junior youth team (ages 7 to 12) has a little more room for growth.

In return, they have use of the best excellent equipment, ITU-style uniforms and outstanding coaching. The team travels around the country to find the best competition. This year, they will go to Galena, Colorado, Iowa and Pennsylvania for training camps and racing and then on to the National Championships.

"We are not a club. We are a team," Keith says. This team and all of its coaching and support are an unusual privilege. The kids respond with an extraordinary amount of effort and self-motivation. The adults involved end up inspired and hooked by their energy and determination.

E-mail Active Kids Editor Christine Palmquist at chrisorjeff@sbcglobal.net.