Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caleb Prewitt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Caleb thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

When Caleb was born, the conversation quickly turned to limitations. Down syndrome – then – meant limitations. The laundry list of all the things he wouldn’t be able to do. Society and medical professionals painted a negative picture of the life he would have. BUT.
As his parents, we wanted more than that. We wanted more than a mediocre life for Caleb. We yearned for him to have a life as meaningful and as rich and robust as that of his siblings.
We raised him as such; with high expectations. We gave him as many opportunities as we could. We provided support. We let his teachers and the other adults in his life know that we wanted the best for him.

We wanted a No Limits life for Caleb.

That became our mantra, and we tried to live it out loud each day. As much as possible, we let him have experiences and challenges that would test him. Make him work. Let him have fun. Allow him to interact with a variety of people, and see what would happen. Sometimes with limited speech, it was difficult, but it usually worked out.

Fast forward 14 years. He joined the triathlon team for Special Olympics Florida; the youngest person on the team. Doing a triathlon was a risk. Swimming 400 meters in a lake, biking 12.5 miles on an open course (with cars), running a 5K. We asked Caleb time and time again – and each time, he replied “YES”, he wanted to try.

We practiced and trained and learned all we could about triathlons. July 2021 was the month circled on our calendar.
The day came.
As parents, we were both nervous and excited for our child to take the next step in his journey.
HE DID IT!
At age 14, Caleb became the youngest person with Down syndrome to complete a full-sprint triathlon.

Today, at age 16, he’s now completed 20 triathlons, and is training for his first Olympic-distance tri later this summer.

We/He took a risk. We challenged society’s expectations and it paid off. Caleb has inspired others to not only challenge themselves, but to live healthier. We couldn’t be more proud.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Caleb is really just getting started! His triathlon and fitness journey has led to opportunities for speaking engagements and appearances. His social media presence tells a story of “ability over disability” and living a No Limits life; challenging norms and expectations for people with Down syndrome. We are excited for the future. At just 16, he has many opportunities and adventures ahead.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Most of our followers started out as friends and family. As Caleb grew older, people began to take notice that he was living an adventurous life! Unexpected, but inspiring, especially to parents of young children with Down syndrome. His platform grew from that, especially during Covid when he started weekly live baking shows. As his fitness and triathlon journey progressed, he’s gained followers from those areas of life; other triathletes, fitness professionals, inclusion advocates, etc.
Our advice is to experiment with the various platforms to find those that best suit your needs. They are all unique!
Be consistent. Share some personal struggles and successes. Respond to questions and offer advice. Most of all, have fun with it!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

During his last triathlon, Caleb experienced some cramping. He actually got off his bike and sat down, holding his stomach. The clock was ticking and we weren’t sure he would be able to finish.
After what seemed like forever (maybe 4-5 minutes), he said he was feeling well enough to get back on and complete the bike.
Not only did he complete the 12 mile bike, but then he ran 3.1 miles to finish the event!
No Limits, indeed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebs_crew/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calebjprewitt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-prewitt-32206b55/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/calebscrew
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/calebs_crew
• Tik Tok: @calebscrew
• Threads: @calebs_crew

Image Credits
Photos by Mom (Karen Prewitt)