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Airman heads to Slovenia to race in Military World Championship

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Second Lt. Zackary Garrett, 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, cycles with the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team and is heading to Slovenia to race in the Military World Championship Oct. 9 - 11.

This is not the first race for the eight-man team, but it is the biggest and the last race for the year.

"The team's fitness is close to its highest," the lieutenant said. "If we race as strong and smart as we're capable of, I think we have a great chance of earning an individual spot and a team spot on the podium."

The Columbia, Mo., native and fitness enthusiast has been an avid cyclist for about eight years. He started cycling to help remain in shape for swimming, but after a while, cycling became his new found competitive sport.

Lieutenant Garrett performed in many races before joining the Air Force and the Armed Forces team and is a multi-time Missouri state cycling champion.

"Being on this team is a great opportunity, one of many the Air Force offers us outside of our standard job descriptions," Lieutenant Garret said. "I love cycling and it's a great honor to represent the Armed Forces and the Air Force. I work and train hard to make sure I represent the military to the best of my ability."

The lieutenant said he is definitely applying for the team next year if allowed.

"Of course, it will depend on what my commanders say when I ask them, and what our mission demands look like for next year," he said.

Overall the experience has been an eye-opener, Lieutenant Garrett said.

Ascending the amateur ranks, the lieutenant held the elite and professional cyclists in very high regard and saw it as a real "bed of roses."

"After spending a season racing, training and interacting with guys at the professional level, I'm starting to see the double-edged sword that it is," he said. "I'm very grateful for the profession that I have, and also the privilege I'm afforded in being able to compete for the Armed Forces and the U.S.

"I wish to thank my fellow Airmen here at Shaw, both subordinates and superiors, who have been very encouraging, as well as my supervisors and commanders who have afforded me the privilege to be on the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team," Lieutenant Garrett said.

For more information on the Armed Forces Cycling Team, go to www.armedforcescycling.org.