Guy East
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 Guy East Before A Racing Event | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Guy Eldon East |
| Born | October 18, 1987 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road & Track |
| Rider type | Road & Track |
| Professional teams | |
| 2009 | Trek/LiveSTRONG |
| 2010–2011 | Optum Health Pro Cycling |
| 2012–Present | Professional 6-day Track Racer |
| Major wins | |
| 1st Overall UIV Talent Cup (with Austin Carroll) (2009) 1st Dortmund U23 Six Day (2008) 1st Stage 1 Vuelta Mazatlan Stage 1 1st Vuelta Mazatlan Stage 2 (2013) 2nd Nations Cup – Coupe des nations Ville Saguenay (Canada) (2.NCup), Stage 4 Time Trial (2008) 3rd Overall Tour of Belize (2.2) (2008) 3rd Vlaamse Brabant (2.12), Stage 3 Time Trial (2007)a | |
Guy East (born October 18, 1987) is a professional road and track cyclist from the United States. East has competed as a professional on the international level since 2005, and in the United States since 2000.[1] He has won races in five countries. He has been a member of the United States men's national cycling team since 2006 and an exclusive member of Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation. East has competed in nearly 30 countries on four continents. He also serves with Hope Sports in Tijuana, Mexico, where he builds homes for the poor.[2]
East halted his professional road cycling and track cycling career for a period in 2009.[3] He reportedly paused his cycling career to dedicate time to charity work in Mexico.
Early life and junior cycling competition
East was born to Guy M. East and Marsha East on October 18, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, the oldest of five children. East's younger siblings are James, Andrew East, Christine, and Grant. His parents met while his father was a walk-on for the Purdue Football team, which is currently known as Purdue Boilermakers football, while his mother was a cheerleader.
James East played football as an all-American at Wheaton College (Illinois) in Wheaton. Andrew East received a full ride football scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Andrew finished his college career as the number one ranked long-snapper in the United States of America. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014. He has since signed with the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders. Andrew is married to Olympic games Gymnast and four-time medalist, Shawn Johnson. Christine East is a student at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Grant East is a senior (education) at Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis) in Indiana.
East's father gave him his first bike when he was 11 years old.[4] His first club was called the "Mob Squad" and it was located in Indiana. The team had many juniors who took part in various racing events. When East's performance became promising, he received an invitation to join the United States men's national cycling team based in San Diego. East spent years as a member of the United States men's national cycling team. During his years at the national squad, East visited Belgium for cycling competitions in four seasons.
East's future in professional road cycling and track cycling career became a reality in the year 2000 when he signed up and participated in Cycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Following his success at the 2000 Summer Olympics, East's Road cycling and Track cycling began, as he has been competing on the international level since 2005. Guy East has also raced Trek-Livestrong – a professional road programme by Axel Merckx. During the road programme, East and other participants road numerous United States races, including Gila City, Arizona, Redlands, California, and the Flèche du Sud in Luxembourg. Currently, he resides near San Diego, CA.
Academic achievement
 |
East graduated from Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis) in 2006. After graduation, he committed himself to the United States national team and moved to the USA Cycling team based in Izegem, Belgium.
Realizing that success must be attained, not only in sport, but also in academia, East was awarded top honors at the Indiana State Science Fair for his efforts in designing and creating two full-scale wind tunnels. He used the wind tunnels for comparative testing of aerodynamic wheels, bike helmets, and bike frames. In recognition of his diligence, he was selected by the late Governor Frank O'Bannon of Indiana to represent all students throughout Indiana in the Governor's "Follow your Dream" initiative. This honor led to a starring role in the still running public broadcasting television commercial encouraging students to make a difference and help themselves and others by applying their passion to science and technology.
Leadership and projects
East has had success in his professional road cycling and track cycling career. Among his major wins is the 2013 1st Vuelta Mazatlan Stage 2 record.[citation needed] He has successfully taken part in various competitions in approximately thirty countries on four continents. During his competitions in these nations, he observed communities in the specific nations undergoing a myriad of challenges. The most serious issue that East witnessed is extreme poverty in many underdeveloped countries, especially urban areas such as Mexico City. In 2009, East with the Trek team rode the tour of Mexico and noticed the high level of poverty in the nation.[5] While riding the tour of the Philippines with the Kelly Benefits team, East was shocked at the high poverty level among many locals and the slums through which they were riding. He immediately began to question his purpose in life and consequently made the decision to stop racing. He then sold all of his possessions and traveled the world to serve the poor. Selling up was the quickest way he could utilize to help the less fortunate members of the world.[6] After two years, East decided to return to professional racing.
He achieved Boy Scouts' highest honor, Eagle Scout.[citation needed] His qualifying project was the restoration of the Major Taylor Velodrome's (Indianapolis) grandstand seating.
East has been featured in various commercials and event promotions, including the Seoul, Korea Visitors & Convention ad, an NBC affiliate special about "Riding with A Legend", national cycling publications, local sports journals, and the PBS commercial.
Hope Sports
Hope Sports is a non-profit organization that promotes personal growth and community among athletes through short-term service trips to Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. The aim of the organization is to provide a transformational experience that unites athletes around a shared purpose of serving the poor that can become a catalyst for athletes to impact their families, teams and communities for positive change.
Hope Sports was founded in March 2015. In its first year, the organization built 11 houses and hosted over 200 professional and Olympic games athletes. In the coming years, the organization is looking to expand into new locations and projects. The primary goal is to help athletes maximize their lives. In 2016, the group rolled out a leadership program for athletes that want to engage and learn after the build is complete.[7]
Hope Sports has grown and continues to grow out of East's vision to see professional athletes live with a greater purpose and a heart of service.
Hope Sports has built 30 homes for the poor with the help of 500 professional and elite athletes.
Amateur and professional career
- In 2000, East began taking part in recognized road cycling and track cycling competitions.
- In 2005, East began competing as a professional on the international level.
- In 2008, (1st Dortmund U23 Six Day) – East participated in the European U23 Six day event at Dortmund, coming out with a big win. East was serious with the competition considering that it was his best way to join the United States men's national cycling team. East raced closely with Austin Caroll, getting third in Munich, second in Ghent, and first Dortmund.
- In 2009, he stopped racing for a while after witnessing extreme poverty while facing in Mexico City. He took it upon himself to sell all possessions to travel the world and help the poor community in Mexico City.
- In 2011, East retired from cycling to pursue other opportunities. East traveled the Latin America extensively serving the poor and working with mission organizations.
- In 2012, East returned to professional track cycling and currently focuses on 6-day indoor cycle races. He has 14 professional 6-day starts in Amsterdam, Berlin, Rotterdam, Fiorenzuola, Grenoble, and Copenhagen.
- In October 2013, Daniel Holloway and East raced together as the California Team at the first half-Six Day race since the 1940s.[8] As a rider, East's current team is Kelly Benefits Strategies.[9] Contrary to Trek-Livestrong races, racing with Kelly Benefits offered East an opportunity to take part in mostly international races with a collaborative team.
Career achievements
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Major results
- 2008
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of Belize (UCI 2.2
- 1st Team Classicfication Fleche du Sud (UCI 2.2)
- 2nd Stage 4 Coupe des Nations Canada (2.Ncup)
- 3rd Overall Tour of Belize (UCI 2.2)
- 5th Prologue Fleche du Sud (UCI 2.2)
Track
- 1st Dortmund UIV Overall
- 1st Gent UIV Day 1
- 1st Dortmund UIV Day 1
- 1st Noel Fore Memorial
- 2nd Gent UIV Overall
- 2nd Gent UIV Day 2
- 2nd Gent UIV Day 6
- 2nd United States National Track Championships Madison
- 3rd Munich UIV Overall
- 3rd Revolution 21 Madison 1km TT
- 3rd Gent UIV Day 4
- 3rd Dortmund UIV Day 3
- 3rd Munich UIV Day 2
- 3rd Munich UIV Day 3
- 2009
- Six Days of Grenoble
- 2010
- Six Days of Fiorenzuola
- 4th Stage 4 Tour of Luzon
- 5th Stage 2 Tour of Luzon
- 7th Stage 3 Tour of Luzon
References
- ^ "Guy East – Team Affiliations". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ "About Hope Sports". Hope Sports. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ Hood, Edmond (12 November 2012). "Pez Talk: Guy East". PEZ Cycling News. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Hood, Edmond (12 November 2012). "Pez Talk: Guy East". PEZ Cycling News. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Hood, Edmond (12 November 2012). "Pez Talk: Guy East". PEZ Cycling News. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Hood, Edmond (12 November 2012). "Pez Talk: Guy East". PEZ Cycling News. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ "About Hope Sport". Hope Sport. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ "Daniel Holloway and Guy East to Race First Half-six Day since 1940's". Archived from the original on 2013-11-10.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Guy East – Team Affiliations". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.