Colorado State University Athletics
Track & Field
Helwick, Chris
Chris Helwick
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach - Pole Vault and Multis
Chris Helwick is a Greeley, Colorado native and accomplished decathlete. He joined the Colorado State track and field coaching staff as a volunteer assistant for the 2019-20 season.
He was first introduced to the decathlon at the age of 17 while attending Greeley Central High School and went on to become a 7-time All-American at the University of Tennessee. At the end of his college career, Chris’ chances of making an Olympic team looked promising, so he spent the following five years training as a professional decathlete in hopes of reaching the pinnacle of his sport — the Olympic Games. After finishing 5th at the 2012 Olympic Trials, just two spots shy of making the team, Helwick retired, certain his track and field career was over. But the years following his retirement opened his eyes to a side of sports he’d never seen before: an outsider's perspective.
“Athletics were always at the center of my life until I retired at the age of 27. So when I walked away from it all, I was really laying to rest this huge part of my identity,” Chris recalls. “I spent the next few years reflecting on my athletic experiences and developing as a person. This completely transformed my perspective on sports and gave me a deeper appreciation for my own athleticism. That’s why I consider myself a ‘born-again’ athlete.”
In 2018, Chris announced he’d be coming out of retirement to make his third and final attempt at the Olympic decathlon. Chris now trains full-time at Colorado State University where he serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Ram’s Track and Field team. Chris will compete in his third and final US Olympic Trials next June in order to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Helwick graduated Greeley Central High School in 2003 prior to heading to compete for the Vols. He left Knoxville, Tenn. with a bachelor's degree in Economics in 2007 and earned his MBA at High Point University in 2011.
He was first introduced to the decathlon at the age of 17 while attending Greeley Central High School and went on to become a 7-time All-American at the University of Tennessee. At the end of his college career, Chris’ chances of making an Olympic team looked promising, so he spent the following five years training as a professional decathlete in hopes of reaching the pinnacle of his sport — the Olympic Games. After finishing 5th at the 2012 Olympic Trials, just two spots shy of making the team, Helwick retired, certain his track and field career was over. But the years following his retirement opened his eyes to a side of sports he’d never seen before: an outsider's perspective.
“Athletics were always at the center of my life until I retired at the age of 27. So when I walked away from it all, I was really laying to rest this huge part of my identity,” Chris recalls. “I spent the next few years reflecting on my athletic experiences and developing as a person. This completely transformed my perspective on sports and gave me a deeper appreciation for my own athleticism. That’s why I consider myself a ‘born-again’ athlete.”
In 2018, Chris announced he’d be coming out of retirement to make his third and final attempt at the Olympic decathlon. Chris now trains full-time at Colorado State University where he serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Ram’s Track and Field team. Chris will compete in his third and final US Olympic Trials next June in order to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Helwick graduated Greeley Central High School in 2003 prior to heading to compete for the Vols. He left Knoxville, Tenn. with a bachelor's degree in Economics in 2007 and earned his MBA at High Point University in 2011.
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