Paralympics2008

More Paralympics Updates!

2008-09-12T00:38:00Z

* British Equestrian Lee Pearson won his 9th consectutive gold medal at 3 consecutive Paralympic Games. Pearson, in fact, is undefeated at the Paralympic level.

* China is apparently a table tennis powerhouse, with Chinese athletes winning 4 of the 5 gold medals awarded so far.

* Two more powerlifters (Facourou Sissoko of Mali and Liudmyla Osmanova of the Ukraine) have been banned for failing drug tests. German wheelchair basketball player Ahmet Coskun was also banned.

* Natalie Du Toit, one of the two athletes with disabilities to have competed in the Olympic Games as well, has won 3 gold medals so far. Du Toit is aiming to sweep all 5 of the swimming events she is competing in.

* American swimmer Erin Popvich now has four gold medals under her belt. Daniel Dias of Brazil has also won four gold medals in swimming.

* The U.S. Men's wheelchair basketball team (which Disaboomer Matt Scott in on) won its game against Australia 68-61. Go Matt!

Be sure to keep checking Universal Sports and Paralympic Sport TV for video and news updates!

Alejandro Albor: Adventures in China

2008-09-11T23:34:00Z

As previously stated, Alejandro Albor left for Beijing on September 3rd. He arrived safe and sound at the Beijing airport (which he noted was beautiful and full of military police for security purposes) and got on a bus to head to the Olympic Village. Alejandro, who is rooming with his teammate David Lee (from San Diego), said that the Olympic village is amazing. The Athens village was beautiful, but can’t even compare to Beijing’s Olympic Village, which also has all of the facilities needed for wheelchair users.

Being in Beijing and surrounded by a multitude of other elite athletes from around the world has reminded Alejandro of why he loves sports so much. He loves being around people who have the same passion for sports and competition that he does, and enjoys the unity he feels with his fellow athletes as everyone is in the same frame of mind. Also, for him it’s great to have the opportunity to catch up with the athletes he knows from Mexico and Central America.

On September 8th, Alejandro ventured outside of the Olympic Village for the first time and went into the city with some of his teammates. The village is only 35 miles from Beijing, but due to the sheer volume of traffic, it took them an hour and a half to get there. Once in the heart of Beijing, Alejandro and his teammates visited a large market that was 4 or 5 stories tall. The major thing that he noticed was the aggressiveness of the vendors. He himself got suckered into buying a tea set. The worst was when he went to go buy a couple of silk scarves, a vendor grabbed onto the front of his wheelchair and told him she wouldn’t let him go until he bought something else. Then, another vendor grabbed onto the back of his wheelchair to help her out, and Alejandro couldn’t move anywhere! He eventually had to call his teammates and get them to come help him get away from the two vendors. Talk about interesting sales techniques…

Overall, though, Alejandro is having a great time in Beijing. He is proud to be representing the U.S., and thankful to all of the people and organizations that have helped him get there!

Irish Soccer Player Derek Malone Cut from Paralympics for Not Having a "Serious Enough" Disability

2008-09-11T17:47:00Z

Authorities in Beijing have cut Irish soccer player Derek Malone from his team after deeming his disability doesn't meet classification qualificiations. The soccer tournament is for players with cerebral palsy, and authorities believe Malone's cerebral palsy is not severe enough for him to be able to participate in the games.

This is not the first time Malone has faced scrutiny over his disability. At the 2004 games in Athens, he had to convince authorities he met the disability criteria to compete in the 800 m race. He decided to switch his sport to soccer (or football, as it's known in Europe), and is gravely disappointed that he has now been questionned on his disability again and ousted from the sport in a way he feels is unjust.

BBC Sport reports:

"I find it ridiculous. High-performance sport is about pushing the limits...how can you have a system that penalises athletes for working hard at their skills?" Malone said on Thursday.

"I refuse to let a flawed process cast aspersions on the integrity of the achievements I have made.

"Cerebral palsy has shown to be a very trainable condition but if you stop training for any length of time, the symptoms will return. There's no cure for cerebral palsy."

Doubts over the classification system for football at these Games have already been raised.

Following his side's 12-1 defeat by Russia on Wednesday, Dutch coach Jan-Hein Evers said some members of the opposition were good enough to play professionally.

The Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association has admitted they do have concerns over the issue.

CPISRA president Alan Dickson said: "We have had a recognised classification system in place for some time.

"As the sport moves on, you have to be prepared to move that on too...clearly people are training more and that may have an effect on their functional ability."

BBC sports news reporter Alex Capstick says "classification cheating is in many ways a bigger problem than doping for the credibility of the Paralympic movement."

What do you think? Do you think it's fair for Malone to be cut from the Irish team? Do you think changes should be made to the classification system? Do you agree with Capstick that classification cheating is a bigger problem than doping for the Paralympics?

Tales from Training Camp: Alejandro Albor

2008-09-10T19:47:00Z

Good afternoon, Disaboomers! Fellow Disaboomer and Paralympic athlete Alejandro Albor has been having problems blogging in Beijing, so yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with him as he regaled me with tales of training camp in Colorado Springs and his adventures in Beijing so far.

First up is Alejandro’s experience at training camp in Colorado Springs. He arrived at Colorado Springs on August 19th, only to have to immediately fly back home on the 20th to Sacramento to take care of a few pressing issues. He returned to Colorado Springs on the 23rd, though, ready to train! Unfortunately, ever since getting hit by a van in June, Alejandro has had issues with his left shoulder. With the help of the training center medical staff, he was able to manage the injury/pain at a functional level.

All the days the cycling team spent at the training center were fairly monotonous: Get up at 6 am, eat breakfast at 7, be ready for a bike ride at 8 and ride for 2 to 3 hours. The beneficial aspect of training in Colorado Springs is the high altitude, which is toted to increase red blood cell counts in athletes and improve their performance overall. Alejandro said that the athletes always come to Colorado before competitions outside the U.S.

On one of the last days of training, the cycling team went on a ride at Black Forest (named for the multitude of pines in the forest). At one point during the ride, the team was going downhill at 35 mph. The cyclist who was leading the pack made a sharp left 90 degree turn, and Alejandro wasn’t able to maneuver the same turn. He flipped his bike and landed on his right (his good!) shoulder and hit his head (luckily, he was wearing a helmet). After immediately visiting the training center’s medical team, Alejandro was relieved to find out that while he was in pain, his injury only amounted to a bone bruise.

The next few days involved short training rides and packing, and on September 3rd the team was Beijing-bound!

Paralympic Updates!

2008-09-09T23:19:00Z

Greetings, Disaboomers, I hope everyone has had some time to follow the Paralympics! (As a reminder, you can catch video coverage of the games at both Universal Sports and Paralympic Sport TV). If not, here are some of the recent highlights.

*Oscar Pistorius wins his first gold medal at the games: Pistorius is one for one, succeeding in his first attempt for a gold medal in the 100 m race. Pistorius will also try for gold in the 200 m and 400 m races. You can read more about the race here and here.

*Also of note, as reported by the ESPN article linked to above, American Erin Popovich (swimming) has already won three gold medals in Beijing. She's hoping for six (in Athens, she won seven gold medals)! You can check out videos of her races on the Universal Sports website.

*Amid protests, the women's 5,000 m wheelchair race will be re-run after a major crash took out six of the eleven contenders in the finals. The athlete who caused the collision, Edith Hunkeler, has been disqualified.

*One paralympian has officially been banned for two years after failing a drug test. Nahveed Ahmed Butt, a powerlifter, tested positive for steroids.

Paralympic Athlete in the Spotlight: Emily Hoskins

2008-09-05T19:07:00Z

Our fourth and final athlete to spotlight is Emily Hoskins (wheelchair basketball). Emily is also a blogger here on Disaboom; check out her blog and her posts of her experiences straight from Beijing!

1) Introduce yourself in a few sentences.

Well, let's see... I'm 25 years old, I've been playing ball since I was 14. I've been on the US team since 2003. This is my second Paralympics. I'm also a graduate student at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. I'm working on my Master's Degree in clincical psychology. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with that degree yet, but I'll probably go on to get my Psy.D. as well. I want to work with kids in hopefully a private practice setting. But obviously, that's a few years down the road so we'll see.

2) How did you get started in playing wheelchair basketball?

I started when I was 14. My parents were on a snow skiing trip where they met someone who knew someone who participated in adaptive skiing. So then when they came back from vacation, my parents looked into and found that there was an adapative skiing program in St. Louis (I live about 25 minutes away from the STL). So we went, and once I got there everyone kept asking what other sports I played. From there, we discovered that there was basketball, tennis, track, etc etc. I tried several sports, but didn't do any of them very long. Basketball was really where my heard was. I was not very good at all, but I loved it. Once I graduated high school, I went to the University of Illinois to play wheelchair basketball here. The rest is history I guess.

3) What is your favorite aspect of playing wheelchair basketball?

I love the thrill of competition. I know that sounds corny, but there is no greater feeling in the sport than being able to shut down your opponent. I sort of have that killer instinct I guess where I like looking them in the eyes, and thinking "My team is about to kick your ass." Plus, it's amazing to meet all these people from all over the world. The 11 other people on my team, I know that no matter what happens, years from now we'll all have experienced the same thing together. We'll never forget what we went through, and we'll always be somewhat of a family. Plus, the traveling to all these wonderful places all over the world isn't too bad either... ;)

4) What are you most looking forward to about the Paralympics?

I can't wait to win another gold medal! Plain and simple. I want this more than I've ever wanted anything else in my life. I'm working really hard, and I've sacrified a lot over the past 4 years to get to where I am. I can't wait to get there, and although it'll be nice to be in China and take in the whole experience, my main focus is simply to win.

5) What advice/suggestions would you give to Disaboomers about how to stay active/get involved in playing sports?

Most people with disabilies aren't even aware that adaptive sports exist. And it's not even for just people in wheelchairs. There's adapative sports for any sort of physical disability. It's just a matter of searching them out. The Internet obviously can help. Also, just word of mouth. If see you see someone with a disability, go up and talk to them. Maybe they know something about wheelchair sports in area. Just try sports out and see what fits you If you work hard and believe in what you're doing, who knows where you'll end up...

Paralympic Athlete in the Spotlight: Jason Regier

2008-09-05T18:50:00Z

Today's athlete in the spotlight is Jason Regier (wheelchair rugby) from Denver, CO!

1) Introduce yourself in a few sentences.

My name is Jason Regier and I have been playing wheelchair rugby for over 10 years. I'm looking forward to representing USA in the Paralympics this September in Beijing. I have an MBA and MS in marketing that I utilize running my own business giving presentations and working on film and video projects.

2) How did you get started in playing wheelchair rugby?

I saw a rugby tournament at Craig Hospital during my rehabilitation. I met the coach Brad Mickelson at a bronco game and he invited me to practice. I started practice with the local Denver team a year after my injury. After a year of practice I started traveling with the team.

3) What is your favorite aspect of playing wheelchair rugby?

My favorite aspect of playing wheelchair rugby is that it's a fast, athletic, hard-hitting game.

4) What are you most looking forward to about the Paralympics?

I am most looking forward to the overall experience of participating in the Paralympics and an opportunity to represent the United States in our gold-medal run.

5) What advice/suggestions would you give to Disaboomersabout how to stay active/get involved in playing sports?

When I was first hurt I couldn't even move my arms. Use whatever ability you have! Discover the sports or activities you love and follow this quote "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have!"

U.S. Paralympics Swim Team

2008-09-04T23:59:00Z

(Reposted with permission from KaraSwims. Original post date 4/9/2008.)

Even as I soaked up the rays of Key West Florida this weekend, the thought crossed my mind no less than a dozen times that four years ago I was soaking up chlorine during one of the most important weekends of my life, my trials for the '04 Games in Athens. I knew there were records being broken, dreams made, and I'm sure...dreams lost. Sometimes I wish I'd gone out in a bang and known my last meet was my last but mostly I'm content with where I am in life today. There are other things I want to accomplish and it's not possible to do those AND swim competitively at an elite level. Knowing that I'm happy with my choices allows me to truly enjoy hearing of others making the team this year. There have been many changes in the coaching and training for this round of Paralympians and I think they'll have the best performance as an American team to date.

So who made the team?

First, you should know the number of slots are determined by a complicated mix of standards, rules, and wildcard allocations. This year, the US got 18 slots for women and 20 for men. Here are the rosters:

2008 U.S. Paralympics Swimming Team Roster

WOMEN

Cheryl Angelelli-Kornoelje (Fraser, Mich.)
Kelley Becherer (Sheboygan, Wis.)
Aimee Bruder (Birmingham, Ala.)
Anna Eames (Golden Valley, Minn.)
Amanda Everlove (Wichita, Kan.)
Deb Gruen (Hamden, Conn.)
Casey Johnson (Cypress, Calif.)
Cortney Jordan (Henderson, Nev.)
April Kerley (Loveland, Ohio)
Beth Kolbe (Tiffin, Ohio)
Jessica Long (Baltimore, Md.)
Marin Morrison (Sammamish, Wash.)
Ashley Owens (Stockbridge, Ga.)
Erin Popovich (Silverbow, Mont.)
Susan Beth Scott (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Melissa Stockwell (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Elizabeth Stone (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Miranda Uhl (Alachua, Fla.)

MEN

Kendall Bailey (San Diego, Calif.)
Mark Barr (Davis, Calif.)
Cody Bureau (Latrobe, Pa.)
Michael DeMarco (San Diego, Calif.)
Dave Denniston (Longmont, Colo.)
Alex Dionne (Mequon, Wis.)
Tucker Dupree (Raleigh, N.C.)
Grover Evans (Little Rock, Ark.)
Rudy Garcia-Tolson (Riverside, Calif.)
Lantz Lamback (Augusta, Ga.)
Curtis Lovejoy (Atlanta, Ga.)
Joe McCarthy (San Diego, Calif.)
Tom Miazga (Cedarburg, Wis.)
Aaron Paulson (Portland, Ore.)
Roy Perkins (Del Mar, Calif.)
Jarrett Perry (Wichita, Kan.)
Michael Prout (West Springfield, Mass.)
Philip Scholz (Mt.Sinai, N.Y.)
Joe Wise (Menlo Park, Calif.)
Justin Zook (Plymouth, Minn.)

There are several impressive highlights from the Trials and if you're interested in swimming times and news, check out the coverage by Mat Luebbers at about.com's swimming page. I'm glad to see more media coverage of this year's road to the Paralympic swimming and hope it continues. Because swimming Trials are earlier than many sports, Melissa Stockwell's inclusion on the team marks the first time an Iraq veteran has qualified for the Paralympics.

[Photo caption: Melissa Stockwell stretches on the pool deck before a meet. Her arm is raised in the air and she's wearing a swimsuit, swim cap, and her prosthetic leg. She has a towel around her neck.]

She's also one of a growing group of resident Paralympic athletes that live and train full-time at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training facilities. I lived there for several months preceding the '04 Games and there's no better place to train. The benefits were reflected in my lifetime best performance in Athens and Stockwell also smashed the American record for the 400m freestyle during the Trials this weekend. Here's a short clip about Stockwell and her work with Wounded Warriors.

4. Duty - Melissa Stockwell - The best bloopers are a click away

There are 38 other important stories to celebrate with the naming of the 2008 Paralympic Swim Team and I'm sure dozens of others that barely missed the few coveted spots. I'll just share two more for now:

1) Dave Denniston has always been a phenomenal swimmer but in 2005 he had a sledding accident that allowed him the opportunity to join our ranks as disabled swimmers...and now Paralympian. His site is awesome and turns out-he's a great blogger too.

2)Elizabeth Stone was my roommate and one of the youngest Paralympians in Athens. She's made the team again and is swimming faster than ever. We had alot of fun and laughs in our Games together and I'm so happy for her because I have a feeling this is her year.

No longer in the pool for Team USA, I'll always be a loyal supporter...I'm going to start this year by adding to the coverage of the events leading up to Beijing...so there's more to come!

Go Team USA!

Paralympics: When Last IS Least

2008-09-04T23:35:00Z

(Reposted with permission from KaraSwims. Original post date 8/23/08)

You wouldn't know it from the lack of Paralympic chatter but in only a few days the world's second largest sporting event is slated to kick off in Beijing. The Olympians will be packing up, heading out, and the Paralympians will roll into their places in the Village, cafeteria, and all the sporting venues to start their Games on September 6. Many of delegates from Team USA have already gathered at training camps across the country and some abroad to make the most of preparations in the last days before they'll see the result of their countless hours of practice and hard work.

Just thinking of what I know the athletes are experiencing right now gives me butterflies. I'm fortunate enough to be connected to e-mail lists, newsletters, and circles of friends that allow me to stay up to date on our team's training and competition results. Media coverage was among the last thing on my mind at this time four years ago, but now I am bothered by the missed opportunities for average Americans to experience the amazing level of competition displayed at the Paralympics. What most people don't understand about the Paralympics is that your typical sports fan would enjoy the events much more than the few that are interested in feel-good/disability-focused stories. A person's physical differences do make their method of sport or their history more interesting, but the elite athletes performing at their peak is the true highlight of these games.

After soaking up the Olympic coverage, I'm beginning to think there may be more to the nonexistence of Paralympic coverage than the country's disregard for our level of sport as anything worth watching-or more importantly worth investing in for advertisers. I have LOVED watching these Games but the television, radio, and magazine coverage seems to have saturated every corner of the media for what feels like at least a month. I've always been a firm believer that if Americans were given the chance to experience Paralympic sports, the Games would sell themselves. Timing, though, would likely have a huge impact on whether the public would even be receptive to any more extended coverage of sports. With the Paralympics traditionally being held directly AFTER the Olympics, maybe last really is least in this case. Perhaps Americans would be more open to media coverage of the Games if the Paralympics were scheduled BEFORE the Olympics. Media outlets could justify broadcasts as a way to increase interest in the upcoming Olympic Games as well. Do you think changing the order of the Games would affect coverage?

As much as I wish my country could experience the Paralympics, I do wonder what's holding the US back that doesn't seem to hamper the coverage by other nations. When I climbed out of the pool in Athens, there were dozens of photographers and reporters waiting for interviews with athletes. It wasn't unusual not to see an American journalist for several days. Even bloggers and Internet news platforms aren't covering the Paralympics. Even this close to the start of the Games, a Google news search of "Paralympics" renders NO American outlets on the entire first page. What do you think could be done to change this?

Worst Paralympic Video?

2008-09-04T23:20:00Z

(reposted with permission from KaraSwims. original post date 8/26/08)

I have just witnessed what are easily the world's worst excuses for promotional videos for the Paralympics. In all my enthusiasm for the Games, I really try not to be a "Debbie Downer" but sometimes it feels unavoidable! I didn't stumble on the insulting pity-filled pieces on YouTube or a small website. Nope...unfortunately they are front and center on the OFFICIAL Paralympic website.

The first video, titled "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Promotional film", is just silly. The "people with disabilities" are clearly actors WITHOUT and they didn't even spring for legit chairs. The focus is skewed from the athletics of the Paralympics to the message that the country has prepared for the influx of many a wheeler from afar. Baton down the hatches folks! And kids-grab your soccer balls from the paths of blind visitors and their guide dogs! I think my captions would have been a nice addition to the film.

The title alone of the second video gets under my skin: "Everyone is Number One." That's nonsense! Everyone's number one in kindergarten and at church NOT at an elite level of competition. If everyone's a winner then NO ONE truly gets to experience victory. It's insulting to the level of training that the athletes put into their sport and I don't even support this mindset for the Special Olympics. I understand that China is largely a collectivist nation, which means that they don't value individual achievements (like winning) to the same degree we do. It could be a cultural difference, so I'll give the video a pass on the title.

Beyond that though, there are no excuses. You MUST watch the film. A guy loses his leg after being hit by a car and the video portrays his dismal existence. After I closed my gaping mouth while I watched the strange scene where this pack of running men blow by the fella on his crutches, I did eventually have to laugh. I'm fairly certain that the film wasn't intended to be comical but it's such a direct hit of nearly every stereotype in the book that I couldn't help myself. Here are few assumptions from the piece:

It's a given that the guy with the disability doesn't get the girl.
We all like to get drunk in dark rooms, take off our legs (or use another adaptive device), and throw them at nearby ringing phones.

Railroads are the best place to practice walking. They do look cool on videos though.

And best yet...this stunning piece of cinematography was made, "specially made for the event and expressed the artist's admiration and support for athletes with disabilities." Hmm...I'd hate to see what would be the result if they didn't like us! Actually, I might RATHER see that. I've always preferred blunt discrimination to this disguised pity propaganda.

I'm hoping Beijing surprises me. It'd be tough to disappoint me any more!

Paralympic Athlete in the Spotlight: Lindsey Carmichael

2008-09-04T22:49:00Z

Our next featured athlete is Lindsey Carmichael, an archer who is currently studying at the University of Texas.

1) Introduce yourself in a few sentences.

My name is Lindsey Carmichael and I am 23 years old. I competed in Athens when I was 19 and will be representing my country again in Beijing this September. I am a student at the University of Texas at Austin and will be graduating in a few more years with a double-major in English and History, both of which feed into my hobbies of reading and writing. I am a faithful NaNoWriMo participant and my greatest dream (aside from holding something shiny and gold while mouthing the words to our National Anthem) is to see one of my books on the New York Times Bestseller List in the next decade. Sooner rather than later, hopefully!

2) How did you get started in archery?

I picked up archery in Middle School at the suggestion of a wonderfully eccentric math teacher who overheard me complaining to a friend about our local softball team. He mistakenly thought I was feeling bad that I couldn't play sports--couldn't be further from my mind, actually--and so he tried to cheer me up by suggesting I try archery. My friend thought it sounded incredibly cool and off we went to Austin for a lesson. Two weeks later, she dropped out and I stayed with it. I really do owe that teacher so much. He changed my life with a random suggestion!

3) What is your favorite aspect of archery?

I love that just about anyone in the world can shoot archery. Male or female. Six years old or eighty-six. You can shoot if you are short, tall, or skinny as a rail. You can shoot from a wheelchair. You can shoot if you are missing an arm. You can even shoot if you are blind! That, to me, is the greatest testament to the level playing field of archery: in a sport assumed to be incredibly visual, we have archers who can shoot by feel alone. How amazing is that? And even within the able-bodied side of the sport, archery has the tendency to level the field between genders in a way that few other sports can. Because both sexes shoot at the same distance during Olympic competition, the scores of each division can be compared--and the archers who come out on top aren't necessarily the strongest or the most cunning. You see, all it really takes to be the best archer in the world is mental acuity and willpower. When I heard that the last few World Record holders in archery were all women, I have to admit I was totally hooked.

4) What are you most looking forward to about the Paralympics?

To be honest, I am most looking forward to the moment during Opening Ceremonies when our team walks into the light of the stadium to the cheers and applauds of thousands upon thousands of people. I'm sure that the sensation of standing on a podium with your own gold medal trumps the Opening Ceremonies adrenaline rush, but right now that's what I remember best from Athens, and that's what I'm looking forward to most in Beijing. You will never feel more inspired to be a part of something as you are at that moment. You will grin like a fool, you will cry, and your teammates will grin and cry around you, and you will go as one team into that thunderous applause with spirits lifted so high you can't imagine anything greater than that moment. Four years of hard work is completely worth it, just for that feeling.

5) What advice/suggestions would you give to Disaboomers about how to stay active/get involved in playing sports?

First, no matter what you do, keep at it to the point of insanity. You'd be amazed what doors will open to you if you work as hard as you can.

Second, and most importantly, even when you think you've got it made, always keep looking for a sport or activity that is right for you. If you think exercise or sports aren't your thing, then you just haven't tried enough sports. Don't like basketball? Try swimming. Don't like swimming? Try skiing. Don't like skiing? Well, then you are smart. I don't like flinging myself down frozen mountains, either. But my point is simple--keep searching, keep trying different ways to do the same thing. We are nothing if not experts at ADAPTING. Let's say you don't like swimming because you get hot and sunburned. Try out a membership at an indoor pool. Maybe you are worried about body image. Try swimming in a waterskiing suit--it covers more and does the job just the same if not better. Get tired after exercise? Drink half an energy shake before, the rest afterwards. Get bored with exercise? Try something new!!!

The best part of being disabled is getting an excuse to not have to take NO for an answer. The genius basketball coach John Wooden used to tell his players: "Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." The thing that we forget is that we are the biggest nay-sayers in our own lives. If you hear yourself saying "no" then instead you should be asking yourself "why not?"

Paralympic Athlete in the Spotlight: Jessica (Jessie) Galli

2008-09-03T22:12:00Z

Greetings, Disaboomers! In addition to the athletes we have blogging from Beijing, over the coming days we will also spotlight a few other Paralympic atheletes who took the time to answer some questions for Disaboom. First up is Jessie Galli, a track and field athlete from New Jersey.

1) Introduce yourself in a few sentences.

I am a 24-year-old graduate student at the University of Illinois studying Community Health. I am a member of the University's wheelchair track & road racing team and also a member of the US Paralympics Track & Frield team. I was raised in Hillsborough, New Jersey along with my sister, Katy. When I'm not racing or going to school, I can often be found shopping or hanging out with friends.

2) How did you get started in track & field?

I was injured in a car accident in 1991 when I was seven. After my accident, I spent four months in a rehabilitation hospital (Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, NJ) learning how to live life in a wheelchair. It was at the hospital that I was first introduced to disabled sports. The hospital had a junior disabled sports program based out of it and I was invited to attend a track practice by the head coach at the time Andy Chasanoff.

Although it took a lot of effort on Andy's part to get me to go to my first practice, once I saw the other kids having fun & participating I was hooked. As a kid I competed in track, field, swimming & basketball. Slowly over the years, I've stopped competing in all sports but track & road racing.

3) What is your favorite aspect of track & field?

I love that track & field offers me the opportunity to be an individual athlete while still being a part of a team. I have always been more attracted to individual sports because they allow me to really push myself to the limit and at the same time don't allow me to "blame" anyone but myself for either my successes or my failures. At the same time, I love being a part of the U of I team because I am pushed to become a better athlete by my teammates & my teammates have become some of my closest friends.

4) What are you most looking forward to about the Paralympics?

The Paralympics in Beijing will be my third Paralympic Games. What I am most looking forward to is my races! In 2000 in Sydney I won a silver medal in the 800m; however, in 2004 in Athens I came away empty handed with a best performance of 4th. So what I am most looking forward to is getting to Beijing as best prepared as I can be and racing the best that I can and hopefully bringing home a medal or two.

5) What advice/suggestions would you give to Disaboomers about how to stay active/get involved in playing sports?

I think being active in sports either at a recreational level or elite level is extremely important for both individuals with and without disabilities. However, I think that sports offer individuals with disabilities a unique opportunity to really push themselves to their limits & to prove to the world that despite their disability these individuals can succeed in all aspects of their life. Sports have given me a level of self-confidence that I may not have found had I not participated. In addition, participating with other individuals with disabilities has allowed me to form friendships with "people like me" that understand what it is like to live with a disability but refuse to let that disability stop them from becoming the best they can be.

My advice to Disaboomers would be to find the sport or activity that you really love & stick with it. Join you local club or team and stay active. Although it is great being an elite level athlete, I know that once my career in racing is over I will remain active because it helps me to maintain a healthy lifestyle.