Athlete of February 2021

Bowler Kyle Troup (USA) won his first career major title when he won the PBA Players Championship in February 2021. Troup was the top seed throughout every round of the Championship: he led all East Region qualifiers through 28 games of qualifying to earn the top seed in the East Region Finals, in which he took victory to advance to the PBA Players Championship Finals. Then he led the three-game, total-pinfall seeding round held to clinch a spot in the title match – which he then won by bowling a 257 game.

He is The World Games Athlete of February 2021!

While Troup has not yet won other major individual titles, he has competed internationally as a member of Team USA. He was part of the USA team in the Weber Cup (USA v Europe), where he was voted the 2019 Most Valuable Player for his 6-0 singles record. Earlier, however, he was principally known for his huge afro, his colourful outfits and his entertaining style; now, the victory at the PBA Players Championship will change that.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Troup after the game. “Hard work pays off. I felt very confident in my ball reaction and the angle I was playing. I didn’t really feel nervous at all. I stayed focused, and the pressure and the nerves kind of went away.”

Kyle Troup comes from North Carolina, USA. “As the son of long-time professional bowler, Guppy Troup, I was destined to become a championship bowler,” he says. “I began bowling at the age of two, and by age five I was using a 10-pound ball. To move the ball down the lanes I used two hands. Two-handed bowling was a style that stuck with me. I am a self-taught two-handed bowler.”

Last year, Troup had his best year to date on the PBA Tour, but it was marred by the death of his mother. In December 2020 he decided to take Storm Staff Development Manager Shawn Ryan up on a previous offer to practice together one-on-one. They analysed his style, his techniques and his use of feet and hands. “I bowled almost 500 frames in three days,” Troup says. The result of this training could be seen at the PBA Players Championship, the first major tournament in 2021. After the victory, Troup pointed to the heavens; this big win is a memorial to his mother.

As The World Games Athlete of February 2021, Kyle Troup will receive The World Games Athlete of the Month diploma as well as a branded gift from the Official Sponsor of Athlete of the Month, Protective Life.

ABOUT PROTECTIVE

Protective Life Corporation provides financial services through the production, distribution and administration of insurance and investment products throughout the U.S. The company traces its roots to the corporation’s flagship company, Protective Life Insurance Company – founded in 1907. Throughout its more than 110-year history, Protective’s growth and success can be largely attributed to its ongoing commitment to serving people and doing the right thing – for its employees, distributors, and most importantly, its customers. The company’s home office is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and its 3,000 employees are located in offices across the United States. As of December 31 2018, the Company had assets of approximately $90 billion. Protective Life Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750). For more information about Protective, please visit www.Protective.com.

The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in The World Games.

 

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