Clients who try to reach Higginbotham executive Marc Spivey this week will be met with an unusual out of office message.

Greetings! I am in Paris to cheer on my daughter Taylor who is competing in the 2024 Olympics. … Go Team USA!

Wait, really?

Yes, Marc Spivey is the proud parent of an Olympic athlete. He will be on — in his words — a combination of Cloud 9 and pins and needles at the same time as he watches his daughter compete in the women’s triathlon competition Wednesday morning in downtown Paris.

Taylor Spivey, a 33-year-old native of Redondo Beach, Calif., is the No. 4 ranked female triathlete in the world and the top-ranked American. She will give the United States a chance to medal in both the women’s triathlon (July 31 at 2 a.m. ET) and the triathlon mixed relay (August 5 at 2 a.m. ET).

“It’s a good time to be a dad,” Marc Spivey told Insurance Journal over the weekend before he headed to Paris.

The triathlon is an event that demands extreme endurance to get through a 1,500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run. Only three American women qualified for this year’s Olympics.

Marc Spivey recognized his daughter had the talent and commitment it takes to be an elite athlete from an early age.

Growing up in Southern California, Taylor Spivey swam for her high school and in her free time served as a Los Angeles County lifeguard. Though she was not as tall as other teenage girl swimmers, she found that her 5-foot-3 frame was well-suited for longer distance swims.

“In open water, she kills it because (her size) doesn’t matter anymore,” said Marc Spivey.

In high school, Taylor Spivey became a two-time national champion in a lifeguard saving competition.

From there, she went on to swim as a walk-on at Cal Poly. When Taylor Spivey as a freshman told her coach that she also wanted to pursue a degree in architecture, he was doubtful that she could fulfill both her athletic training and demanding academic course load.

“I’ll see you first year, then I won’t see you after that,” the coach told her.

Taylor Spivey proved that she could be both a collegiate swimmer and a top student. She swam four seasons for the Mustangs and graduated in 2014 with her architecture degree in hand.

“She totally proved him wrong,” said Marc Spivey. “That’s her. Don’t tell her that she can’t be something.”

Triathlon Upbringing

Taylor Spivey was introduced to triathlon by her parents, who actually met while competing at a race.

Her mom Bonnie Spivey is a competitive swim coach who has held World Masters swim records in the triathlon.

Marc Spivey, who leads Higginbotham’s TV/Film and Entertainment division, competed in Masters triathlons for seven years before transitioning to competitive cycling.

“I left the swimming to her mom because her mom was so good at it,” said Marc Spivey. “But when it came to cycling, that’s where I kind of stepped up. She says sometimes in interviews that I was helpful in developing her skillset.”

Though both of Taylor Spivey’s parents competed in triathlons, they never pushed her to take up the sport. When she did take up the sport for the first time in college, she was instantly good at it.

Taylor Spivey competed in her first triathlon while at Cal Poly and after college she began to pursue the sport professionally. She relocated to Girona, Spain, where she trains with her coach year-round. She has won several medals in the Super League Triathlon and consistently ranks among the top female triathletes in the United States.

In 2021, Taylor Spivey hoped to represent her country at the Tokyo Olympics but was narrowly left off the three-woman team. Nevertheless, she was invited as an alternate, knowing she wouldn’t get to compete. Her trip to Tokyo was not the Olympics experience she wanted to remember.

“She’s remarkable at not letting things phase her or channeling that into positive commitment,” said Marc Spivey.

Taylor Spivey didn’t leave her spot on the Olympic team up to chance this go-around, securing her position with strong performances in the lead-up to the summer.

When Taylor Spivey was able to share with her father two months ago that she made the U.S. team, he was ecstatic—and also a little bit relieved.

“‘Did Taylor make the team?’ I kept getting asked that question,” said Marc Spivey. “So it was nice to finally say, ‘Yes, she did make the team.'”

Marc Spivey said his colleagues at Higginbotham have been supportive of his daughter’s journey, often spreading posts of Taylor’s progress to Paris. As the proud father prepared to travel to the Olympic Games, he even received a message of encouragement from Higginbotham CEO Rusty Reid.

Olympic Legacy

When Taylor suits up for the women’s triathlon race Wednesday, both of her parents will be present to watch their daughter realize her athletic dreams.

While Marc Spivey has watched Taylor compete in triathlon championships across multiple continents, none of those events compares to the anticipation of the Olympics.

“You don’t really realize the impact of the Olympics and Olympic athletes until you’re in a position like me,” said Marc Spivey. “It’s just overwhelming. Everyone is so excited.”

Taylor is realistic about her chances of reaching the podium. She faces a loaded field and the weather conditions in Paris could throw the competitors a curve ball. Recent rain has increased water pollution levels in the Seine River, forcing the postponement of the men’s race and raising the possibility that athletes might have to bypass the swimming section altogether.

That would be unfortunate for Taylor Spivey, whose strength is in the open water.

Whatever the outcome, Marc Spivey is elated to watch his daughter compete at the highest level.

“What will I be remembered for? And now I think, I’ll always be remembered as the father of an Olympian. I’m really proud and honored to be that. She’s a very deserving person and daughter. I’m just so proud.”

Photo: Taylor Spivey competing at a Triathlon for Team USA. Marcel Hilger/tkspivey.com