The Mindset of a Champion: Billy Lister’s Momentous Year

A mindset is contagious, and all it takes is one point of contact to recast all preconditioned notions.

I found myself entering a new year after navigating the most transformative six months of my life in 2016 — ready for the next competition and evolutionary progress in my ascension as an elite professional Paralympian.

My 2017 calendar started off with a World Championships event being held on home soil here in the U.S., on the famed Velodrome in Los Angeles.

After a set of hard races that didn’t go in my favor, I concluded the week of racing by claiming my first International World Championship medal, earning the silver medal in the 3 Kilometer Individual Pursuit.

1st ride on the new @black_line_sprinting straps and won an @UCI_paracycling World Champs IP Silver Medal @FeltBicycles #differencemaker pic.twitter.com/NutN2EhrYW

— Billy Lister III (@billylisterIII) March 4, 2017

Sights then got set on the season on the road — and were started off with a first place overall finish at the U.S. Paralympic Cycling Time Trial Selection race, in Keenesburg, CO.

Progress was building as I began the international travel and road competition part of the season. First stop was the Netherlands, a small city called Emmen, for a UCI Paracycling World Cup. Racing in Emmen was highlighted with a bronze medal finish in the Individual Time Trial.

Congrats @billylisteriii 3rd place in the Men’s C1 at World Cup 3! @USParalympics @UCI_paracycling pic.twitter.com/3oAnQ5ltcF

— USParacycling (@usparacycling) June 30, 2017

The culmination of a vital build-up season was an epic travel experience to South Africa for the UCI Paracycling Road World Championships. I embarked to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, a city in the Kwazulu-Natal province known for its strong cycling community.

The display of strength was palpable, and competition was relentless, as expected. I entered an outside target for a podium position in the Individual Time Trial, pitted against the best in the world in my classification.

On an unforgiving 25 kilometer course in South Africa, I was able to find success and placed third overall, claiming the bronze medal for TeamUSA!

Started off racing @UCI_paracycling World Champs with a Bronze medal in the Time Trial #paracycling2017 #?? #endureandenjoy #fittogofurther pic.twitter.com/5jJwtEmgrf

— Billy Lister III (@billylisterIII) September 1, 2017

Capping off a year of momentum was wildly fun and exciting, as I navigate toward Tokyo 2020.

Once a mindset is opened, the only thing left to do is never stop exploring it!

Follow @billylisterIII

October 19, 2017