Born on December 1, 1973 in the small town of Garrison, Texas, Eric and his five siblings were faced with a great deal of adversity.  At the early age of six, Eric learned the meaning of devastation when his father died, leaving his mother with the difficult task of raising six children as a single woman.

During his middle school years, Eric was introduced to sports.  His dedication and involvement prevented him and his older brother from getting into some of the same troubles as their classmates.  As a middle school student, he was the team manager for various sports at the local high school.  The opportunity allowed him to learn how to interact with coaches and older athletes.  Filling up water bottles, joining huddles, and listening taught him numerous lessons at the early stages of his athletic career.

CLEARING LIFE'S HURDLES

Upon entering high school, Eric began playing football, basketball, track, and baseball.  As a young athlete, he was often in the shadows of older athletes, including his brother.  He soon realized that running was his way out of a negative lifestyle.  Although football was his first love, he began to focus on track and field in his junior year.  With his speed and natural ability, Eric knew that if he could clear the hurdles of life, he could make a name for himself.  He trained diligently and quietly, and slowly began working his way up the ladder.

BREAKING OUT

His efforts paid off.  Eric earned a football and track scholarship to Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, a school that has produced over 20 Olympians.  He was recognized as the "fastest hurdler in the nation" during his freshman year.  The following year, he broke the National Junior College record for 400-meter hurdles.  After that, he transferred to Abilene Christian University where he earned All-American honors as a 400-meter hurdler.

DRIVEN TO ACHIEVE

In early 1996, he made the tough decision to move to Houston, where he began training for the 1996 Olympic Games.  In a photo finish, Eric finished fourth in the Olympic trials.  He was selected as an alternate for the Olympic Team. Although serving as an alternate seemed like a disappointment to Eric at the time, his mom reflected that, "Being an alternate on the 1996 Olympic Team fired Eric's drive for success more than any other single event in his career.  It drove him to achieve."  

In 1999, Eric earned a silver medal in the Pan-American Games.  The following year, he reached a major personal goal of earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and competed in 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.  In 2003, he became the U.S. Champion and earned another silver medal in the Pan-American Games.  For eight years of his 10-year professional career, Eric was ranked in the top 10 Track & Field athletes in the world.

 

EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEONE TO COACH AND ENCOURAGE THEM 

Did you know Michael Jordan failed to earn a spot on his high school basketball team? The following summer, MJ worked very hard on his own and at various basketball camps to improve his game.  The best athletes in the world need support and motivation to drive them.  Most of the accomplished athletes in the world have a training partner to encourage them to take the next step and go the extra mile. 

Whether you are training to enhance your athletic performance or to become more active for the numerous health benefits, Champion Trainers is here to help you achieve your goals by providing knowledge, motivation, and encouragement. Give us a call at for more details on how you can improve your athletic performance and fitness lifestyle at 713-320-6672.