 | 2006 Team USA
Dublin, Ireland
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Wheelchair Sports, USA, Promotes Junior International Competition
As TEAM USA prepares to transcend upon Johannesburg, South Africa, much preparation, practice and anticipation is in the air.
The team, comprised of fifteen athletes and six staff members, will compete in the Junior World Championships March 31 through April 8, 2007. (Athletes: Christopher Arcell, Ryan Chalmers, Caitlin Chasar, Jordan Clyburn, Bob Hunt, Steven Klorer, Kristen Messer, Mariya Redden, Louis Riccardi, Amber Salsburey, Susannah Scaroni, Adam Schmuki, Austin Slaymaker, Rachel Voss, and David Watts; Staff: Team Leader-Gregg Chalmers, Assistant Team Leader -Tomie Zuchetto, Field Coach-Teresa Skinner, Track Coach-Joe Shifflett, Swim Coach-Laurie Karr and Equipment Manager-Susan Rossi).
The athletes will challenge their international competitors in Track, Field and Swimming. Following competitions, the experience will include a tour of a historic mining village (Pilgrim’s Rest), Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park.
Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA), has a long-standing history of providing junior athletes the chance to compete in the international arena. This door of opportunity opened for junior athletes in 1989 when Miami, Florida was named to host the World Youth Championships. This sparked the formation of the first junior “Team USA”. Soon after, the team departed for St. Etienne, France to join their adult US competitors for the World Championships.
Since then, WSUSA has sent teams around the globe. Team USA frequently attends the Australian National Games, participated last year in the IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports) Junior World Games in Dublin, Ireland, and is preparing to add South Africa to their resume. To date, hundreds of athletes have benefited from their international experiences.
Arleen Sand, WSUSA, Junior Committee Chairperson, states that “the Junior Committee’s philosophy is that some of our junior athletes will go on to become future Paralympians. Our international trips help to provide these athletes the experience of international travel and competition. At the same time, many of our athletes will not pursue these heights and the international trips may be their trip of a lifetime.”
Athlete Bob Hunt, Team USA 2006, says that “the competition in Dublin was exciting because we met new people and heard lots of National Anthems from other countries. I met an athlete named Javede from Iran, who was pretty cool and outgoing, just like me. Our Team and Team Iran spent a lot of time together when we weren’t competing. We laughed a lot and had a great time”.
Paul DePace, President, International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) and WSUSA BOD, put it best noting that “sports is a tool for international communication”. A time when cultural and political differences are set aside and mutual respect is evident.
US athlete, Jordan Bird, has his sights on the 2008 Paralympic games. Jordan believes that these experiences help prepare athletes for bigger events. “There is more intense competition at the international level,” Jordan says. “You can test out your competition, learn what you have to work on and know where you stand. Even if you beat your competition, you can still go after the world records or your personal best. You get to meet some great athletes. I didn’t know that New Zealand had such a good team. I was surprised in Ireland when I first saw them. I like attending these competitions and look for athletes that are better than me. If you see a challenge (someone that is better than you), you don’t give up. It makes you try harder.”
Whether the athlete’s most memorable moments are of the exposure to a different culture, touring a foreign land, friendships formed, or of the elevated level of competition, one thing is clear – WSUSA recognizes the value of all of these benefits and is committed to continuing to provide these unique opportunities for years to come.
Athletes are selected for Team USA based on having two years experience at the National Junior Disability Championship level. Applications must be submitted by the athlete’s coach. Each athlete is expected to pay their own expenses. If you are interested in providing financial support of this program, please contact WSUSA. For additional information, please contact WSUSA. Phone (732) 422-4546, Email:
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, Website: WWW.WSUSA.ORG
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