MacLellan-Photo assignment | Redefining Journalism

October 4, 2011 12:34 am ? kmaclellan ?

Mathias Sengberg, 19, hasn?t been cycling very long but he?s been on the move since he was born.

Born in route to the hospital on Interstate 95, his motto is ?why be normal??

The only Brazilian on the University of Florida cycling team, he is the kind of person that gives off an air of adventure with his lean muscular physique and helmet hair, his passion for cycling started this past summer.

His favorite part of cycling is that it doesn?t hurt his knee. Sengberg broke his knee playing indoor soccer late 2007 and has struggled staying active with the injury. Cycling means he can be serious about a sport without being in pain.

?I love going on trails and seeing different places on my bike it?s a different experience than running or driving,? Sengberg said.

Cycling is more than just a sport; it is a way for him to see the country roads he doesn?t have back in his hometown of West Palm Beach. Sengberg is a tri-athlete but his love of cycling is growing and he may someday make the switch to just competitive cycling.

In high school, sports were his greatest interest and he was sure he wanted to do sports in college but after breaking his knee he realized that sports weren?t guaranteed and so sports for recreation became his priority.

Since the injury he?s kept busy, playing volleyball, scuba diving and running but it wasn?t until now when he found a sport that drives him. Nonetheless, because he classifies himself as a tri-athlete he swims, runs and cycles training for his very first race.

Sengberg isn?t just training for any race though; he is training for a Half Ironman race. Most tri-athletes work their way up from Olympic Sprints but not Sengberg, his first race is going to be one of the hardest physical challenges someone can put themselves through.

On October 10, he will attempt to swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles and run 13.1 miles in five hours. ?Why be normal??

Source: http://www.redefiningjournalism.com/2011/10/maclellan-photo-assignment/

sam bradford nancy grace st louis rams charlie sheen roast dancing with the stars 2011 cast paz de la huerta julianna margulies