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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
T34, F34
Further personal information
Occupation
Athlete, Student
Languages
English
Higher education
Communications - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: United States
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up Para athletics in 2007 at age seven with the Greater Oklahoma Disabled Sports Association in Edmond, OK, United States of America.
Why this sport?
While visiting a farmer's market she was approached by a member of the Greater Oklahoma Disabled Sports Association, who invited her to join the organisation. She had never used a wheelchair before trying her first racing chair.
Club / Team
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: United States
Name of coach
Adam Bleakney [club]
International debut
Year
2014
Competing for
United States
General interest
Hobbies
Wheelchair basketball, swimming, art, writing. (teamusa.org, 01 Jun 2016)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning two silver medals in the T34 400m and 800m and a bronze in the T34 100m at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 31 Mar 2021; Athlete, 28 Sep 2017)
Most influential person in career
US wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden. (Athlete, 28 Sep 2017)
Hero / Idol
US Para triathlete Amy Palmiero-Winters, US Para athlete Tatyana McFadden. (ahs.illinois.edu, 25 Sep 2019; Athlete, 28 Sep 2017)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs
While competing, she wears a lucky sock that her little sister gave her for Christmas. (teamusa.org, 01 Jun 2015)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"No matter how many people believe in you, nothing will change unless you believe in yourself." (Athlete, 28 Sep 2017)
Awards and honours
She won the US Paralympics Female High School Track Athlete of the Year award in 2017 and 2016. (insidethegames.biz, 21 Oct 2017; paloaltoonline.com, 19 Oct 2016)
She was inducted to the University of Central Oklahoma [UCO] Endeavor Games Hall of Fame in 2015, having previously been named the 2011 Endeavor Games Junior Athlete of the Year. (endeavorgames.com, 01 Sep 2019; edmondlifeandleisure.com, 23 Jun 2011)
She was inducted to the University of Central Oklahoma [UCO] Endeavor Games Hall of Fame in 2015, having previously been named the 2011 Endeavor Games Junior Athlete of the Year. (endeavorgames.com, 01 Sep 2019; edmondlifeandleisure.com, 23 Jun 2011)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (richmond.com, 16 Sep 2016)
Impairment
She has cerebral palsy. (Athlete, 28 Sep 2017)
Other information
CAREER PLAN
She is interested in pursuing a communications career that incorporates Para sports. "I'm definitely thinking about something Paralympic-wise in communications. I think that would be really cool because I've been in this world for a while." (ahs.illinois.edu, 25 Sep 2019)
She is interested in pursuing a communications career that incorporates Para sports. "I'm definitely thinking about something Paralympic-wise in communications. I think that would be really cool because I've been in this world for a while." (ahs.illinois.edu, 25 Sep 2019)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T34 | Final 1 | 2015-10-22 | 2 | |
| Women's 800 m T34 | Final 1 | 2015-10-28 | 4 | |
| Women's 400 m T34 | Final 1 | 2015-10-31 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T34 | Final Round | 2016-09-10 | 3 | |
| Women's 400 m T34 | Final Round | 2016-09-14 | 2 | |
| Women's 800 m T34 | Final Round | 2016-09-16 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T34 | Final 1 | 2017-07-14 | 3 | |
| Women's 800 m T34 | Final 1 | 2017-07-17 | 2 | |
| Women's 400 m T34 | Final 1 | 2017-07-20 | 2 |