Howard Grotts, far right, got into mountain biking because of his father, Don, and big brother, Donnie. Courtesy of Debbie Williams
As he tried to keep up with his big brother Donnie, Howard Grotts started to shine on a mountain bike at a young age. Courtesy of Debbie Williams
With plenty of trails to ride in and around Durango, the Grotts boys were always riding their bikes. Courtesy of Debbie Williams
When Donnie Grotts, left, quit racing mountain bikes, he became Howard Grotts’ biggest fan. Courtesy of Debbie Williams
Howard Grotts, center, is used to racing against athletes older than him. He’s been doing it since he was a kid, and now he is an Olympian at the young age of 23. Courtesy of Debbie Williams
Howard Grotts has been working on his game-face for a long time. Courtesy of Debbie Williams
Howard Grotts was able to race in the hometown Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in 2012, and led race winner Yannick Eckmann down Coal Bank Pass. Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic race director Gaige Sippy honored Howard Grotts at Carver Brewing Company in 2014. Durango Herald file
Howard Grotts stunned the elite field when he won a cross-country mountain bike national championship at Mammoth Mountain, California, in 2015. Courtesy of PB Creative
Durango’s Howard Grotts has consistently proven himself as the top-American mountain biker, and USA Cycling rewarded him as such by giving him the lone men’s mountain biking roster spot for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Michal Cerveney/Specialized Racing
After continually climbing the UCI points standings, Durango’s Howard Grotts is Olympic-bound for the first time in his career. Michal Cerveney/Specialized Racing
Howard Grotts did it again by repeating as the cross country national champion in 2016. Courtesy of Specialized Racing
Durango’s Howard Grotts was so far out in front of Keegan Swenson that he could open his arms and celebrate a national championship sitting up in 2016 at Mammoth Mountain, California. Wil Matthews/Specialized Racing
Howard Grotts knows the trail around Fort Lewis College’s Rim Drive well. He’s been riding it since he could first stand on bike pedals. Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Looking back on his childhood in Durango, Howard Grotts called it a perfect community for cycling. Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Howard Grotts’ focus is never on wins or losses but more the experiences gained along the way. Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
When Howard Grotts races in Rio, he will have USA on his chest and Durango on his back. And Durango will have his back, too. Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
