Meet Michael Stone
Michael Stone has struggled with vision his whole life. It wasn’t until he was 35 years old that he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes peripheral vision loss first, followed by the loss of central vision. But for Michael, it was the opposite—his central vision was the first to go.
As a child, people thought Michael was uncoordinated, but his vision was the culprit. Frightened by team sports after being hit in the face by a baseball, he turned to music and eventually martial arts, skiing, and rock climbing.
Originally from Chicago, Michael moved to Boulder in 1997, quickly embracing the Colorado athletic lifestyle. He bought his first bike right after his move west and signed up for his first race, the Bolder Boulder, in 2000. That epic first race had him hooked.
He started swimming after the Bolder Boulder and competed in his first triathlon in 2001, where he made a wrong turn because of his vision loss. Six months later, he received his retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis.
Michael never allowed his vision loss to derail his passion for sport. Now an accomplished and avid endurance athlete, Michael has competed in over 200 races and 17 Ironman triathlons.
Michael’s vision continues to decline; there are no cures for his eye disease. In March 2020, Michael was matched with his guide dog, Geo, which has given him new-found appreciation to explore the world, coping with fear and anxiety. As a wonder team, Michael and Geo continue to race and recently they took up Nordic skiing and biathlon.
Michael is passionate about supporting people with disabilities who are working to adapt and find independence. He enjoys working one-on-one to help individuals learn to navigate the world and achieve personal freedom.
When Michael isn’t coaching for Blindfulness™ or running mountain trails, he’s in his art studio painting with oils, using various layering techniques for people with vision loss to feel his artwork. And his love of music is ever-present. An avid guitarist, he plays daily, and is constantly learning new instruments, taking lessons for violin, cello, piano, and voice.