Triumphs of Paralympic Champions Abroad Highlight Achievements of Chicago's Own

The recent success of Paralympians like Egypt's Heba Said Ahmed offer a good moment to recognize Chicago's own.

On October 3rd, The New York Times printed a Saturday Profile of a young Egyptian champion of the Paralympic Games that brought joy to my heart – and tears to my eyes at times. She has brought honor to her country – and herself -- with determination and hard work. While she was in grade school her father, a government worker, carried her to the fifth floor; if he was sick, she did not go to school that day. She did not have a wheelchair until she was in sixth grade – nor physical therapy until she was a teenager; in college she learned to use crutches. Although I have only read about her triumphs, she strikes me as an amazingly positive young woman, fit to be a role model for anyone.

Here are some excerpts from Heba Ahmed’s Saturday Profile by Michael Slackman (You can browse the Times' archive of Paralympic stories here. -Ed.).

"Ms. Heba Ahmed, who had polio as a child, won a gold medal in power lifting during the Paralympic Games in Beijing. She broke a world record in her 181-pound weight class, too, lifting 341 pounds. A few days earlier she was being lauded as an Egyptian Hercules. … It is hard to overstate how different Ms. Ahmed is from many of those around her. It is all about attitude. Egypt is filled with people who face adversity, most often a function of poverty and systemic indifference. It is a class-based society with an unwritten contract that many people believe condemns them to live as they were born, poor and marginalized. There is a pervasive feeling of impotence, a collective belief that fighting back is futile. …

"But Ms. Ahmed never refers to fate; she talks about choices. She does not talk about obstacles; she talks about challenges. …."I think there has to be a bit of struggle in your life," she said. "It strengthens you. It builds character." …

"During the Olympic Games, which preceded the Paralympics in China, Egypt did poorly, earning just one bronze medal. But in the Paralympics, Egypt earned 12 medals, including four golds. 'Face savers,' read the headline on Al Ahram Weekly, an English-language newspaper. It was an extraordinary achievement coming from a country where physical disabilities are largely seen as props for street begging. …'I feel very satisfied with my sports achievements,' Ms. Ahmed said, indicating that she is ready for marriage and the next steps in her drive to defy expectations and build a full life. "I want to have children and raise them well," she said. "I want them to be champions, too." …

"I don’t consider Heba to be handicapped," said Aly Hassan el-Saadani, head coach of the national weight lifting team. … Ms. Ahmed won two African titles. She won a world championship. She won a gold medal during the Paralympics in Athens four years ago, and set a world record in the process. Then she went up a weight class, won a gold in Beijing and set a world record in that weight class, too.…

"In Egypt, crossing the street or getting on the sidewalk for a handicapped person can be a real challenge," Mr. Saadani said. "In other countries there are ramps, there are ways for them to get on buses. None of this is available here. They used to come to practice standing up in the bus because there were no seats for them. They are the best of what we have here in Egypt."…

After the stellar showing in Beijing, there was hope that even people with physical limitations could be accepted as heroes. The athletes were greeted by Egypt’s first lady, Suzanne Mubarak, and the president’s son Gamal. They were also promised cash rewards for their victories. But then it was back home to Zagazig, and a return to indifference. …

"We are hoping through sports to begin to change people’s attitudes," Ms. Ahmed said one day as she went to pay a visit to her first gym."

A look at Chicago's Own Paralympians

Ms Ahmed inspired me to do a little research about past champs from Chicago. Our city has its share of Paralympic champions as well.

Since 1988 the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) has sponsored 53 athletes competing at the Paralympics:

Seoul 1988 (1 athlete, 1 sport, 0 medals)
Barcelona 1992 (8 athletes, 5 sports, 3 medals)
Atlanta 1996 (14 athletes, 9 sports, 7 medals)
Sydney 2000 (7 athletes, 4 sports, 2 medals)
Salt Lake City 2002 (9 athletes, 2 sports, 3 medals)
Athens 2004 (7 athletes, 3 sports, 3 medals)
Torino 2006 (4 athletes, 2 sports, 4 medals)
Beijing 2008 (3 athletes, 3 sports, 1 medal).

The Racer

In February 2006 RIC announced the receipt of a grant from the U.S. Paralympics to be designated as the U.S. Paralympic Midwest Training Center - an effort to drive participation in sports for kids with disabilities and fuel the future of the U.S. Paralympic team. Linda Mastandrea, an attorney who uses a wheelchair, was hired as its Director. As the press release states:

"In 1996, she was a Gold and Silver Medalist in wheelchair track at the U.S. Paralympics where she also set a world record in the 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter races. She has won 15 gold and 5 silver medals in international competitions and was the first disabled athlete to serve on the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors."

She stopped competing in 1999 to pursue her law career and her goal to assist people with disabilities who have experienced discrimination.

The Swimmer

Jason Wening, the clinical research director in an Oak Park orthotics practice, is a five-time Paralympic Gold medalist (plus one Bronze medal) before retiring after the Sydney Games in 2000. He still holds three Paralympic world records, in the 800- and 1500- meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley.

The Cyclist

Greta Neimanas, a young Chicagoan, was born with her left arm missing below the elbow. Almost since birth she has benefited from the care and expertise of Rehab Institute of Chicago’s prosthetic team and, with this assistance, has gone on to represent the US in the Beijing Paralympic as a member of the cycling team. Her first Paralympic experience was in Athens where she observed the proceedings. She had won the trip in an essay contest sponsored by RIC with her winning essay, "What Ability Means to Me". After only four years experience as a cyclist, she won a gold medal in Beijing.

According to the RIC website, "In January 2008 the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Wirtz Sports Program was named by the United States Olympic Committee as a Paralympic Sports Club. As a Paralympic Sport Club, RIC Sports' Paralympic Services is comprised of three components: 1) Adaptive military program for wounded veterans, 2) Paralympic Academy for children, and 3) Athlete development."

Three cheers and a standing ovation for these amazing athletes – and for the foresight of RIC in sponsoring them since 1988! We admire their hard work and the successes they have achieved. And we applaud RIC for their belief in the abilities of people with physical differences and the support and training they have always provided them. And imagine what Heba Ahmed would think!