STEPHEN GISSELMAN
Three time national championship qualifier - 2003, 2004, 2005
Finished 14th in the 30-34 age group at the 2007 East Regional Championship in Richmond, VA
Finished eighth in the 25-29 age group at the 2005 Midwest Regional Championship in Milwaukee, WI
Finished sixth in the amateur point standings in 2005 in the 25-29 age group in the Southeast Region
Finished third in the amateur point standings in 2004 in the 25-29 age group in the Southeast Region
Steve Gisselman has been a member of the Independent Fabrication Grassroots Racing Team since 2005. In his first year as an IF team member Gisselman had a respectable season, culminating in a 37th (amateur division) place finish at the 2005 XTERRA Midwest Regional Championship. During the 2005 season Gisselman completed all of his bike legs while riding an IF Steel Deluxe Single Speed (34x17).
Unfortunately Gisselman's 2006 and 2007 seasons were not as successful as he originally had planned. In July of 2006 while on a group ride Gisselman had his front wheel taken out from under him and as a result crashed quite spectacularly into oncoming traffic. He sustained a fractured collarbone, severe road rash covering his back and left hip, and a severe head contusion. Gisselman managed to make a full recovery and was swimming, riding and running after two months of rehabilitation.
To the dismay of Gisselman the bad fortune of 2006 carried over into 2007 where he crashed another three times, the worst of which was while on a mountain bike training ride. The damage from this most recent crash was another broken helmet and a severely separated shoulder. Unfortunately the wreck came three weeks prior to the 2007 XTERRA East Regional Championship. He undertook a substantial rehabilitation program and refrained from swimming and running for two weeks. Gisselman was able to compete at the championship race, albeit not at full strength.
After the regional championship Gisselman decided to forego the rest of his season and focus on his preparation for the 2008 season. He is excited to be racing for the IF team once again in 2008 and hopes to have his best season yet.
When he's not swimming, biking or running Gisselman is training athletes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports in the UNC Department of Athletics. His responsibilities include designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs for women's field hockey, softball, women's lacrosse, men's and women's track and field, men's and women's swimming, and men's and women's golf. He most recently had the pleasure of working with the 2007 NCAA National Champion UNC Field Hockey Team that went 24-0. Along with his duties at UNC he also leads strength training programs for a number of local triathletes, runners and cyclists. He is also doing his part to help IF make the world a greener place to live. Gisselman has logged over 1000+ commutes to and from work in the past five years and hopes to continue this trend for many years to come.
