Paratriathlete David Whelan Urges WAU Students to ‘Run Into the Storm’ at Gateway Vespers
Written by: IMC Director Simonique Dietz
TAKOMA PARK, Md. — Washington Adventist University’s Gateway Church hosted professional paratriathlete and motivational speaker David Whelan for Friday evening vespers, where he shared a powerful message of faith, endurance, and purpose.
The program, organized by WAU’s athletic department and campus ministry, filled the church with students and community members eager to hear Whelan’s story of perseverance.
Brittany Johnson, co-founder of ACE Sports Group and Whelan’s representative, called his journey “a story of resilience and mental strength.”
“You are the next generation of leaders,” Johnson told the students. “This message is about choosing purpose over pain and recognizing that success begins with mindset.”
Whelan, a member of Team USA’s paratriathlon squad, lost his leg below the knee in 2018 after years of battling complex regional pain syndrome, one of the most painful conditions in medicine. He has since competed internationally and earned the 2023 USA Triathlon National Championship title in his category.
“CRPS feels like you’re constantly being lit on fire and stabbed repeatedly,” Whelan said. “But I learned that the magic is on the opposite side of the storm.”
He told students that his turning point came after years of surgeries, depression, and hopelessness. By shifting his mindset, embracing faith, and focusing on gratitude, he rebuilt his life.
“The sooner we go into the storm, the sooner we reach the calm,” he said. “That’s where growth happens.”
Whelan encouraged students to “be worthy of their suffering,” quoting Viktor Frankl and urging them to view challenges as opportunities to inspire others.
“When you decide to climb your mountain,” he said, “you give others permission to dream.”
The evening closed with prayer and reflection, reminding all that faith doesn’t remove life’s storms—but it gives believers the strength to run through them.
Washington Adventist University invites students to grow in faith, knowledge, and service. Learn more at wau.edu.