Coming Full Circle: ‘A Father’s Legacy’ in the Leadville Trail 100
Continuing a family tradition, Simi Hamilton competed in the Leadville Trail MTB 100, 39 years after his father won the first Leadville Trail 100 Run in 1983.
Simi Hamilton’s fondest memories are of spending time in nature with his father, Skip Hamilton, in the backwoods of Aspen, Colo. Simi became a professional athlete because he grew up in an athletic family, including Skip, who won the inaugural Leadville race.
Finding his passion as a cross-country ski racer, Simi joined the U.S. national team after college, then continued to race in three Olympics that led to a World Cup in 2013. Later, he skied in seven world championships, where he met his wife.
To keep the tradition alive, Simi made the effortless transition from ski racing to biking — in order to cross the same finish line his father did 39 years ago.
“Whether it’s mining, whether it’s ski racing, whether it’s running the Leadville 100, whether it’s mountain biking the Leadville 100 — we’ve created this legacy of just being outside, being passionate for something, and working really hard towards something,” Simi said.
Now that he’s a father, Simi wants to continue the tradition and help his daughter discover her passion.
Runtime: 4.5 minutes
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