Many people will never attempt to complete an Ironman competition, and it would be unthinkable after suffering from COVID-19. As one of the first cases of COVID in North America, that’s exactly what Ben O’Donnell did.

During his training for swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and then finishing up with a marathon run, O’Donnell was still suffering from long COVID symptoms, but he found his way from the lowest points of his life to the finish line.

When not being an inspiration to others going through hard times, O’Donnell devotes his time to fundraising for the Ironman Foundation’s IRONAID program, which gives grants to non-profit organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.