Ever heard of Russ Hancock?

No? Didn't think so.

Not many students have heard of this Winthrop House junior who may just be one of the best athletes on Harvard's campus.

Don't feel too bad if you were out of the loop. Hancock is one of the premier young triathletes in America and because he does not compete for any Harvard teams he has managed to go virtually unnoticed on campus.

"He is very humble and downplays his achievements," explains his roommate Greg Curvall.

Hancock attended high school in Old Lyme, Connecticut, where soccer and track were his sports of choice. His life was to take new direction in 1993 when a close friend introduced him to bicycle racing.

Although bicycle racing alone didn't thrill this explosive young athlete, it would be instrumental in guiding him to his future passion.

Later that year, Hancock read about a local triathlon--swimming, biking and running--in the newspaper. With little swimming experience but an adventurous spirit, he decided to enter the competition. After only a couple hours of preparation in the pool, he showcased his raw talent by taking first place in the race.

After this unexpected victory, Hancock became enthused with the sport.

"I got more serious every time I did it," he said.

This, the first of many competitions to follow, was classified as a sprint triathlon because of the shorter distances covered. But don't let the name fool you--this demanding event is much more than most people could handle.

The "sprint" triathlon requires only a quarter-mile swim, eight-mile bike ride, and a three-mile run. The "sprint" took Hancock only 40 minutes of continuous high intensity exercise to complete.

Shortly after his first success, Hancock began training for competition in full triathlons. Arguably the most grueling of all competitions, the triathlon combines a one-mile swim, a 26-mile bike ride, and a six-mile run.

Hancock describes the first two miles of running as "the most painful" part of the race. This is due to the change of muscle groups required in the legs during the transition from biking to running.

Amazingly, in only his second year of competition, Hancock entered the world's largest annual triathlon held in Chicago, with more than 5000 entrants and proved himself to be one of the best performers in the country for his age.