We recently had the chance to connect with Tania Zamora and have shared our conversation below.
Tania, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I would say I’m definitely walking a path, though it hasn’t always been a straight one. My path really started with Team Hoyt San Diego. Nearly two decades ago, I was introduced to the Hoyt family’s mission of inclusion in athletics, and it completely changed the trajectory of my life. What began as volunteering to support athletes with disabilities grew into a calling. Today, I serve as President and Executive Director of Team Hoyt San Diego. Through that role, I’ve seen firsthand how persistence, compassion, and advocacy can open doors for people who are too often left on the sidelines.
I realized that while races and events create moments of inclusion, real and lasting change comes from shaping the policies and systems behind them. Now, I’m carrying forward the same values in my everyday life, discipline, resilience, and service, but applying them in a way that can impact communities on a broader scale.
So, while my path has had its share of turns and challenges, there’s been a constant thread: a commitment to advocating for others. Team Hoyt San Diego gave me the purpose. I see my path as one of deliberate steps toward creating a more inclusive world.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tania Zamora, and I am the President and Executive Director of Team Hoyt San Diego, a nonprofit that empowers individuals with special needs to participate in athletic events they might otherwise be excluded from. We provide adaptive race chairs and a community of volunteers so that athletes of all abilities can experience the joy of racing, from 5Ks to marathons to triathlons.
What makes Team Hoyt San Diego special is that it’s about so much more than just crossing a finish line. It’s about breaking down barriers, creating inclusion, and showing families that “Yes, You Can”- the motto that inspired the original Hoyt family. I’ve had the privilege of watching children and adults who never imagined they’d be part of a race feel the excitement of the starting line, the encouragement of cheering crowds, and the pride of finishing strong. Those moments are transformative, not just for the athletes but for everyone involved.
My story with Team Hoyt began nearly two decades ago when I first volunteered at an event. I was deeply moved by the resilience and spirit of our athletes, and I knew I had found my purpose. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to growing the organization, building partnerships, and ensuring that inclusion isn’t just an idea but a lived reality at every race we’re part of.
Right now, we’re focused on expanding opportunities for our athletes, from local 5-milers to national races, and building greater awareness about adaptive athletics. What makes our work unique is the way it brings people together: athletes, families, and volunteers all uniting for a common cause of inclusion and joy.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think bonds between people often break when we stop seeing each other, when differences, misunderstandings, or even the fast pace of life make us forget the humanity we share. Isolation, exclusion, and a lack of empathy can create walls where there should have been bridges.
What restores those bonds is connection, and often, it’s found in the simplest of moments. For me, I see it at the starting line of a Team Hoyt San Diego race. When a runner pushes an adaptive rider athlete in a chair, they’re not just moving together through a course, they’re sharing trust, joy, and resilience. Cheering crowds don’t see limitations; they see a team. That shared experience of struggle, triumph, and support restores something essential: our recognition that we are stronger together.
At the heart of it, bonds are rebuilt through inclusion, compassion, and the willingness to carry one another forward, literally and figuratively.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“The struggles you carry today will become the reason you can lift others tomorrow.”
I would tell my younger self: “You are stronger than you realize, and the challenges you face will one day become the very things that give you purpose.” At times, it’s easy to doubt whether the obstacles in front of you are setbacks or signs you’re on the wrong path. But looking back, every hardship became fuel for resilience and empathy, qualities that now define the work I do with Team Hoyt San Diego. I’d remind her to trust the journey, even when it feels uncertain, because it’s leading her exactly where she’s meant to be.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One of the deepest truths in my life is that everyone has value, and everyone belongs. It feels so natural to me that I rarely say it out loud, but it’s the guiding force behind everything I do.
With Team Hoyt San Diego, I’ve seen again and again that inclusion isn’t just a nice idea; it changes lives. Watching an athlete with special needs cross a finish line reminds me of another truth I hold close: joy multiplies when it’s shared. The finish line is never about one person, it’s about the team, the families, and the community that comes together to make it possible.
I also carry the belief that perseverance transforms limits into possibilities. It’s a truth I’ve witnessed in athletes, volunteers, and families alike, and it’s become so woven into my perspective that I don’t often put it into words. But it’s there, quietly shaping every decision I make.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
What would remain is my purpose. Titles and possessions can disappear, but the heart of who I am is service and inclusion. With Team Hoyt San Diego, I’ve learned that what endures isn’t recognition or material things, it’s the impact you make when you help someone else experience belonging, joy, and dignity.
At the core, what would remain is compassion, resilience, and a belief that we are all stronger together. That’s the part of me that no title or possession can define, and it’s the part I hope lives on through the people and communities I’ve served.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.teamhoytsd.com
- Instagram: @teamhoytsd
- Facebook: @teamhoytsd
