| Athlete |
Sport |
Record |
| James V. Mastro |
Wrestling, Track and field, Goalball, Judo |
Medalist in 1976 and 1992 Paralympics, 1991 Judo chanpionships and 1984 International Games for the Blind. He has competed with able-bodied athletes. In 1985, he became the first person with a visual impairment to earn a doctoral degree in physical education. |
| Erik Weihenmeyer |
Mountain climbing |
Captain of his high school wrestling team. First blind person to trek the 50-mile Inca trail to Machipicchu, Peru. With his father, he tandem-biked 1,200 miles in Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Has climbed the seven highest peaks in the world. |
| Bill Irwin |
Mountain climbing |
With his seeing eye dog "Orient," he hiked the entire 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, the only blind person to do so. |
| Marla Runyan |
Distance running |
Finished fifth in the 2003 Boston Marathon with the fastest American time in the last 10 years of the marathon’s history. Finished in eighth place in the 1,500-meter run in the 2000 Olympics. |
| Tim Willis |
Distance running |
Top-ranked blind distance runner in the world, holding two world records. Won four medals at the 1996 Paralympics and a bronze medal at the 2000 Paralympics. A finalist for the 1996 Sullivan award for top amateur athlete. |
| Tricia Zorn |
Swimming |
Competed in six Paralympics and has won a total of 51 medals, more than any other Paralympian in history. |
