Fred Sommer has always loved his hometown.

Raised in Clermont, where citrus groves once stretched as far as the eye could see, Fred’s transformation from overweight high schooler to pioneering triathlon promoter is more than a personal evolution. It’s the story of how one man’s passion helped put Clermont on the map for endurance sports. 

“In high school, I used to be overweight. The coach would tease me and say, ‘If you come in behind Sommer, keep on running!’” Fred recalls. “I was always last to finish.”

That memory stuck with him—but it didn’t hold him back.

Fred started running regularly in college, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion. By 1984, he had launched Sommer Sports Events—a grassroots effort so he and his friends could race locally—that has since grown into one of the nation’s most respected multi-sport production and race timing companies.

Today, Sommer Sports produces more than 40 events annually and has introduced thousands to triathlons, road races, trail runs and more. The company has hosted over 300 triathlons in Clermont alone, including marquee events like the USA Triathlon National Championships, the National Senior Games and the Special Olympics USA Games Triathlon. It also created the TriAmerica triathlon tour and founded the Great Floridian Triathlon—the longest-running independent full-distance triathlon in the United States.

Still, organizing races has gotten tougher as the area keeps growing. 

“We need roads and lakes to hold triathlons,” Fred says. “With so many new homes and developments, it’s becoming harder to find safe, open spaces.”

Even so, the rewards outweigh the obstacles. “One of the best parts of the job is seeing how many lives we’ve touched and changed,” Fred adds. “We’re now seeing third-generation athletes. Their parents raced with us and now their children are competing, too. It’s very special.”

FUN FACT: Fred, a gardener ‘in his spare time, owns Sommer Gardens in clermont — one of the leading hybridizers of brugmansia (angel trumpets) in the world.

Among the many notables who got their start in Clermont triathlons is four-time Olympian, triathlete Hunter Kemper. “Hunter was just a young guy when he started showing up to our events,” Fred says proudly. “Watching athletes like him grow and achieve greatness is inspiring.”

Fred credits the success of his company to the focus on participant experience and making each event unique and enjoyable. “It’s about keeping people happy and wanting to come back,” he says.

His staff, many of whom have been with him for years, are more like family than co-workers. Together, they manage a packed calendar of races.

But it’s not just elite athletes who benefit. Sommer Sports has become a platform for stories of transformation—people who began running to lose weight, cope with emotional struggles or simply find community.

The company has also partnered with the Special Olympics.

“We created a program with local coaches to accommodate Special Olympians,” Fred explains. “They compete in shorter distances, always accompanied by a guide and receive their own start times and awards. It’s been a wonderful thing for the community.”

Fred is working to ensure that the next generation of athletes, no matter their financial background, can experience the joy of endurance sports. Partnering with AdventHealth, he’s launching a new program offering loaner bikes and gear, as well as mentorship and encouragement from experienced racers and volunteers.

“We want to remove the barrier of cost,” Fred explains. “No child should miss out on this sport because they can’t afford a bike, a helmet, a pair of shoes—these things might seem basic, but for some families, they’re out of reach.”

Fred’s idea comes from a simple belief: endurance sports do more than just keep you healthy. They build confidence, teach discipline, and give kids a place where they feel they belong. “We’ve seen firsthand how participating in races changes lives. Kids who were once shy or struggling in school start to find their voice and develop a sense of purpose,” he says.

The loaner bike program will work closely with local schools, youth organizations and coaches to identify children in need and provide them an opportunity.

Fred adds, “We want them to see themselves at that starting line, to feel like they belong there just as much as anyone else. Who knows? The next Olympian could be a kid who just needed someone to believe in them.”

Fred, now 70, shows no signs of slowing down. He recently launched a 24-hour trail race and continues to innovate with smaller, more accessible race formats. His energy and enthusiasm remain contagious and his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

In 2023, Fred was named USA Triathlon’s Director of the Year. Then, in early 2025, RunSignup honored him with the prestigious Alan Jones Timer of the Year Award.

Clermont didn’t become the “World Triathlon Destination,” attracting athletes from all 50 states and more than 35 countries, by accident. It took vision. It took grit. It took Fred Sommer.

“My advice is to follow your dreams,” he says. “You have to make sacrifices. There were years I went without an income because everything went into the business. But if you believe in what you’re doing, you can be successful.” 

Photos: Nicole Hamel