Kirsten Winkler Sass Champion Triathlete Honored By City of McKenzie

Kirsten and Jeff Sass with children, Sebastian and Bella.

The unveiling of a sign to honor Kirsten Sass was on March 4, 2021 at the intersection of University Drive and Patriot Drive. Mayor Jill Holland read a proclamation detailing a few of Sass’s athletic accomplishments during the ceremony.

McKENZIE (March 4) McKenzie native and champion triathlete Kirsten Winkler Sass was honored by the City of McKenzie on Thursday, March 4 for her international athletic accomplishments. Mayor Jill Holland and the McKenzie City Council approved the placement of three signs throughout McKenzie noting Sass’s accomplishments. March 4, 2021 was designated as Kirsten Winkler Sass Day in McKenzie.
During a brief ceremony at the intersection of University Drive and Patriot Drive. Family members, fellow athletes, and friends gathered for the ceremony.
Mayor Holland read a proclamation outlining a few of Sass’ accomplishments:
She was the USA Triathlon Overall Amateur Female Triathlete for 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
She won the USA Triathlon Open Amateur Female Triathlete of the Year in 2018.
She won the USA Triathlon Overall Amateur Female Duathlete of the Year 2015, 2016, 2019.
She is the 10X World Champion Gold Medalist, a 5-time World Champion Siver Medalist and a World Champion Bronze Medalist in Triathlon, Duathlon, and Aquathlon.
Kirsten holds 23 national championships in the Triathlon and Duathlon.
In 2016, she was awarded the Ironman Louisville Overall Female.
She also serves as a guide in competition for Amy Dixon, in national and international paraathlons and triathlons. In addition to four World Cup places, the two earned first through the seventh place in over seventeen races. Kirsten and Amy will begin training to compete in the para-athletes in Toyko this summer.

I hope this sign is a symbol that you should never underestimate the influence you can have on someone else.
She credits her late father, Dr. Volker Winkler, for encouraging, supporting and being a bit of an instigator for encouraging her to achieve what she has accomplished.
“I hope this serves as a symbol for our children and future generations that if you have something you love to do, that you are passionate about, if you have a goal, if you apply yourself, if you commit, and put yourself wholeheartedly into it, then, as Ironmen like to say, anything is possible.
Being a triathlete takes a village of support. She said she is grateful to have her community, triathletes and athletes inspire me and motivate me to have my co-workers and former co-workers and to have my family to support me.
This sign is for as much as you guys as it is for me. I would not be able to do what I do without the support of everybody.

Kirsten is a physician assistant at Christian Family Medicine in McKenzie. She and husband, Jeff, and children
Bella, 11, and Sebastian, 9 reside in the Pea Ridge Community outside McKenzie. They operate Somerset Getaways at their home. It is a place to relax or take in professional athletic training.