Olympic dreams come true for paraplegic teen
HAYWARD FIELD - Some of the world's best athlete's have made their way around the Hayward Field track during the Eugene '08 Olympic Trials. This young girl is no exception.
Meet 14-year old Chelsea McClammer. McClammer was left paralyzed from the waist down following a car accident back when she was only six years old. Now, eight years later, she's the youngest member of this year's Paralympic team and the second youngest member in history. "It's really cool," says McClammer. "At first I couldn't believe it and now it's sinking in."
McClammer, her teammates, and members of "World Wheelchair Sports" are at Hayward Field for a clinic and trial meet. Wednesday, they participated in a one mile race.
McClammer says she started as the slowest on her Spokane-based Saint Luke's team when she joined three years ago. After training with coach Teresa Skinner, she qualified last month for the 800 meter race in Beijing. "I didn't think they would say my name but when they did, I thought they would take it back or something," she says.
McClammer isn't the only Paralympian on the field. Kevin Hansen of World Wheelchair Sports was a Paralympic track coach back in 1996. He has been working with these special athletes and says the most important part of these events is how these kids prove they aren't their disability. "It's all about the kids," he says. "It's beautiful. And the more buzz we can get about wheelchair sports in the Northwest the better."
Meet 14-year old Chelsea McClammer. McClammer was left paralyzed from the waist down following a car accident back when she was only six years old. Now, eight years later, she's the youngest member of this year's Paralympic team and the second youngest member in history. "It's really cool," says McClammer. "At first I couldn't believe it and now it's sinking in."
McClammer, her teammates, and members of "World Wheelchair Sports" are at Hayward Field for a clinic and trial meet. Wednesday, they participated in a one mile race.
McClammer says she started as the slowest on her Spokane-based Saint Luke's team when she joined three years ago. After training with coach Teresa Skinner, she qualified last month for the 800 meter race in Beijing. "I didn't think they would say my name but when they did, I thought they would take it back or something," she says.
McClammer isn't the only Paralympian on the field. Kevin Hansen of World Wheelchair Sports was a Paralympic track coach back in 1996. He has been working with these special athletes and says the most important part of these events is how these kids prove they aren't their disability. "It's all about the kids," he says. "It's beautiful. And the more buzz we can get about wheelchair sports in the Northwest the better."
