Respect To Steve-O, Who Celebrated 10+ Years Of Sobriety By Crushing His First Triathlon

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images for Nautica

Steve-O, the Jackass star we saw get electrocuted with 50,000 volts, butt chug through a beer funnel, and voluntarily stick a fish hook through his cheek, has transformed into a goddamn role model. In the height of his Jackass fame, the 44-year-old’s life was spiraling out of control, using booze, PCP, ketamine, nitrous, and cocaine regularly. One might consider a low point in Steve-O’s life to be the time he snorted blood-soaked cocaine because he was so desperate to get high. Suicide was a real consideration for him during these dark times.

But, back in March 2008, the iconic stuntman committed to a change. He went vegan, meditated daily, and asserted his energy into stand-up comedy.

And a decade later, Steve-O celebrated his 10 year substance-free anniversary. He tweeted this out in March:

“Hard to believe it’s been an entire decade since I’ve had a drink or a drug,” he wrote. “I just can’t put into words how grateful I am for @realjknoxville [fellow Jackass star Johnny Knoxville] and the rest of the guys who locked me up in a psychiatric ward on March 9, 2008, where this journey began. Thank you, dudes, I love you.”

This past weekend, the man I’ve watched throw up more than anyone on the planet completed a grueling test of athletic prowess and endurance after making a birthday promise to himself back in June to get in the best shape of his life.

Steve-O competed in the celebrity division of the 32nd annual Nautica Malibu Triathlon in Los Angeles, California, to raise money for childhood cancer research, Men’s Health reports.

He finished the half-mile swim, 17-mile bike, and four-mile run along the beach, placing tenth in a celebrity division that included Joel McHale, Steve Howey, and Jon Cryer.

After the race, Steve-O sent out a tweet with the medal, accompanied with the caption ‘I can’t believe how far I’ve come on this journey of life.’

I normally don’t emotionally invest in the well-being of celebrities, but this makes me very happy. Good on ya, Steve-O.

Oh, and if you think he’s given up being a madman, here is him getting a gold club to the face courtesy of Chuck Liddell.

[h/t Men’s Health]