From one t-shirt to
the largest ministry for endurance athletes in the world – Chris Gillespie
calls TEAM 413 a miracle of God's grace. In 2003 Gillespie founded the
non-profit ministry inspired by God's calling in his life. Even though he has
had a very successful professional career in sports medicine, TEAM 413 is his
passion – a labor of love for runners and other endurance athletes worldwide.
Whether challenging others to walk a lap around a track or run a mile, change
an attitude or improve a relationship, Gillespie shares a message of hope,
confidence, perseverance, courage, and strength. His ultimate goal is to
exhibit in his own life and to impart to others the truth of his life verse,
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Chris has done much
in his 33-year career as a certified athletic trainer. He served in many
capacities in sports medicine at Samford University from 1982-2013. He retired
from the Birmingham, Alabama institution in July 2013, worked as Associate Director of Sports Medicine at the
University of Georgia where he oversaw administration and mentoring programs as
well as rendering sports medicine care to UGA’s athletes in 2013-14, and is now
full-time with TEAM 413.
He has spoken at
athletic training and sports medicine seminars from coast to coast. He has also
served on numerous athletic training committees at the state, district, and
national levels. He has served as president of the Alabama Athletic Trainers'
Association and the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association. In addition,
Chris served as a member of the Alabama Athletic Trainers' Association
Licensure Task Force and was a member and Vice-Chair of the Alabama Board of
Athletic Trainers for more than a decade. He was an athletic trainer for track
& field and the marathon at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Among his many
awards in the athletic training field are the National Athletic Trainers’
Association Service Award, the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association
District Award, the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association Educator Award,
and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Most Distinguished Athletic
Trainer Award. Chris was inducted into the Alabama Athletic Trainers'
Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Southeast Athletic Trainers'
Association Hall of Fame in 2008. The highest honor of his stellar career came
in June 2012 when he was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’
Association Hall of Fame, an honor that exists to recognize the very best in
the profession of athletic training.
Chris Gillespie's
story is one of inspiration. He shares his words of encouragement, God's grace,
and overcoming trials to running groups, churches, sports teams, and at
marathons speaker series across the United States. Chris is the author of
GRACERUNNER – FAITH ON THE RUN and is currently working on two more books based
on his life experiences.
A native of
Pontotoc, Mississippi, Chris and his wife, Kiki, now live in Athens, Georgia.
Chris has two daughters, Morgan (30) and Ashley (28) and two step children,
Gerrit (17) and Hanna (15).
