All Categories - Iona Wynter Parks

I teach French language courses, French-language literatures (yes, with an 's' for variance & multiplicity) and Core Studies at Oglethorpe University and I advise student-athletes as one of the two NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives on campus. I first started teaching at my old high school in Kingston, Jamaica before becoming a professional triathlete in a bid to make the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Post-Olympics, I took a teaching position in Atlanta, Georgia at Woodward Academy, where I also coached swimming and XC running. I settled in culturally, rode my bike, met my husband, and got my masters degree in French linguistics.

We did a stint in Jamaica at Goldeneye, the property that belonged to Ian Fleming, and where he penned his Bond series. There, I helped put the Fieldspa in place to help owner Chris Blackwell expand the hotel, and was involved in foundation work for the community with the fish sanctuary. Chris Blackwell's financial support was one of the major reasons for me making it to the Games, so to work on a development project of his benefitting the community, region and the country is still something I am proud to be associated with today. After the project we returned to Atlanta, and happily, my teaching and sports experience are foregrounded in my current position.