#2016paralympics

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has produced many world-class athletes over the years, and Paralympians are no exception. Amanda McGrory is one of these athletes. She got her start as a wheelchair athlete 20 years ago at Carousel House a recreation center in West Philadelphia, exclusively for people with disabilities, where she competed in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair racing.

(Amanda after her 2016 win in Rio. Photo by Bob Martin.)

At the age of five, Amanda, a native of Kennett Square, PA, contracted a condition called Transverse Myelitis, which left her paralyzed from the waist down and dependent on a wheelchair to get around. Shortly after her diagnosis, Amanda’s parents enrolled her in sports for recreational and social reasons. Prior to enrollment, she had never met a person, let alone someone her age, who used a wheelchair full-time. At Carousel House, she was also able to witness  adults with disabilities who led full and productive lives. Many of the people that Amanda met during her time at there remain friends and mentors. Amanda credits her time at Carousel House for instilling in her a foundation of confidence and independence, qualities that define her athleticism to this day. “It was cool to see something that started out as a recreational thing ultimately become something so much bigger,” she said.

(Amanda competes in her first race in 1996.)

Growing up, Amanda loved both track and basketball equally, and she competed in both sports through her high school years. When it came time to attend college, Amanda chose to attend the University of Illinois on a basketball scholarship, where she was an active member of the women’s wheelchair basketball team for five years. She also continued to train in wheelchair racing, a sport that would drastically change her life and direction as an athlete.

In 2006, at the age of 20, Amanda was bribed by a friend into participating in her first marathon. Previously, she thought of herself as a sprinter and middle-distance runner. However, after completing the 2006 Colfax Marathon in Denver, she was hooked and decided to start training for distance events. For the next three years, Amanda also continued playing basketball; however, she ultimately made the difficult decision to make racing her predominant sport. Since her first marathon ten years ago, Amanda has run nearly 100 marathons, and won approximately 30 of them. In 2009, Amanda became a sponsored athlete. Throughout her career, she has been able to travel the world to compete in marathons.

Amanda competed in her first Paralympic Games in 2008 in Beijing, China—something she had dreamed about since childhood. She won four medals, including a gold in the 5000 Meters. She returned in 2012 for the Paralympic Games in London, England. Unfortunately, Amanda did not have the same success that she did in Beijing, but she still recalls it as a great experience. In September of this year, Amanda competed in her third Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. She ended up winning three medals, one silver in the 1500 meters and two bronze in the marathon and 5000 meters, bringing her total to seven Paralympic medals so far. When asked for a standout memory from her Paralympic career thus far, Amanda cited the two times that she and her American teammates accomplished a sweep on the podium, taking the gold, silver, and bronze positions in the 1500 meters and the 5K. The Paralympics have also afforded Amanda unique opportunities, such as getting to meet President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and First Lady Michelle Obama.

According to Amanda, being a Paralympian takes a significant amount of dedication and sacrifice, which can sometimes be difficult. Amanda currently trains six days per week, putting in 100-150 miles per week, depending on the time of year. “It’s hard because you have to make a lot of sacrifices and love your sport,” she said. “It can be frustrating to not see results, but you must learn and grow from your mistakes to make you who you are as an athlete.”

Amanda is not certain what the future holds, but she has no plans to stop competing in wheelchair racing anytime soon. She still trains and competes for the University of Illinois, where she is currently a graduate student, studying library and information science. In addition to training, Amanda works as a graduate assistant and teaching assistant. She also occasionally does speaking engagements where she talks about her life as a Paralympic athlete. Amanda hopes to see the adaptive sports world grow significantly in 10-20 years’ time, so that future young athletes can have the same opportunities that she had growing up.

Amanda strongly urges young people with disabilities to get out there and try adaptive sports. “It can be fun to explore different sports, and once you find something you love, sticking with it, “she said.