RACING THE WIND

The history of wheelchair sports goes back to the years following World War II. With so many young men returning home with disabilities, two visionaries realized their needs for an active, full life. For these two researchers, engaging in sport was a way to encourage self-esteem, rehabilitation and, most of all, provide enjoyment to people with disabilities. Tim Nugent at the University of Illinois and Dr. Ludwig Guttman of the Spinal Injury Center in Stoke-Mandeville, England were pioneers in developing wheelchair athletics. In 1956 the National Wheelchair Athletic Association was created in the United States to organize national sporting events. The organization exists today under the name of Wheelchair Sports, USA.

Wheelchair athletics was met initially with resistance. Able-bodied people wondered "what happens if they hurt themselves or fall out of their chair?" Others with less vision thought no one would want to watch a disabled athlete participate in a sport. But after 50 years and a few Olympic Gold medals, wheelchair sports are now viewed as pure athletics and not a cause.

Early wheelchair sports included track and field events, bowling, archery and basketball. Road racing and eventually marathons were added to the list of sports that wheelchair athletes would tackle. Today there is no limit to the extent of sports engaged in by those with disabilities. Wheelchair athletes compete in skiing, kayaking, mountain climbing, sailing and even bungee jumping.

The Paralympics allows the best athletes with disabilities from around the world to compete. The Paralympics takes place in the weeks following the Olympic Games in the same country and in the same facilities. The Olympics also include two exhibition wheelchair events. These are the women's 800m and the men's 1500m races.