Meet the BlazeSports and State of Georgia Paralympians

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Meet the BlazeSports and State of Georgia Paralympians McKenzie Coan (Clarkesville) is a member of the GA Blazers Swim Team and at the age

She is also a member of the Cumming Waves Swim Team.

third trip to the Paralympic Games. In 2008 he was the most decorated male US swimmer with 4 medals, one a gold medal and world record.

1 Meet the BlazeSports and State of Georgia Paralympians McKenzie Coan (Clarkesville) is a member of the GA Blazers Swim Team and at the age of 14 is one of the youngest Paralympians on this year s team. McKenzie is American Record Holder- S9 in 400 free and 100 IM. She is also a member of the Cumming Waves Swim Team. Austin Hanson (Topeka, KS) is the only athlete representing the United States in Boccia, a sport that BlazeSports is the national governing body for. Austin is a 15 time national champion in the BC3 division and this is his third Paralympic Games Lantz Lamback (Augusta) is making his third trip to the Paralympic Games. In 2008 he was the most decorated male US swimmer with 4 medals, one a gold medal and world record. Lantz is one of our original Blazers and his Dad, Fred Lamback is our Head Swim Coach. Centra (Ce-Ce) Mazyck (Columbia, SC) is one of several rookies on this year s Paralympic Team. BlazeSports supports her training and regional competition as part of our US Paralympic/VA military program. Ce-Ce is a former US Army Airborne parachuter who was injured during a training jump.

Meet the BlazeSports and State of Georgia Paralympians Lieutenant Bradley Snyder (St.

after his injury. Brad went on to qualify for Team USA with some of the fastest times in his class in the world this year.

2 Meet the BlazeSports and State of Georgia Paralympians Lieutenant Bradley Snyder (St. Petersburg, FL) is also a rookie Paralympian and military athlete that BlazeSports supported. Brad lost his vision to an IED explosion in Sept while deployed in Afghanistan. BlazeSports Head Swim Coach, Fred Lamback, worked one-on-one with Brad four days a week for 3 months to prepare him for his first competition after his injury. Brad went on to qualify for Team USA with some of the fastest times in his class in the world this year. Brad will be competing in London exactly one BlazeSports is the national member organization of CP-ISRA which oversees Paralympic Soccer. We assist the US Team with recruitment and some minor administrative issues. Several members of the US Paralympic Soccer Team will be working with BlazeSports during our upcoming trip to Haiti.

Meet the Shepherd Center and State of Georgia Paralympians Curtis Lovejoy (Atlanta) is a five-time Paralympian who started his Paralympic career at the

Curtis has also competed in fencing and was the 1st African American Athlete to win Gold medals in swimming & fencing at the 2000 Paralympic Games.

She place first the discus and second in the 100 and 200 meters at the US Paralympic Trails.

in biomedical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine in 2009 Completed post-doctoral in 2010

3 Meet the Shepherd Center and State of Georgia Paralympians Curtis Lovejoy (Atlanta) is a five-time Paralympian who started his Paralympic career at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. Curtis competes with the Shepherd Center and holds 10 World Records, five Pan/AM Records & 14 American Records. Curtis has also competed in fencing and was the 1st African American Athlete to win Gold medals in swimming & fencing at the 2000 Paralympic Games. Cassie Mitchell (Atlanta) is another first time Paralympian. She place first the discus and second in the 100 and 200 meters at the US Paralympic Trails. She is also an accomplished para-cyclist and won the 2012 World Championships. Cassie earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine in 2009 Completed post-doctoral in 2010 Currently is research faculty at Georgia Institute of Technology. Krige Schabort (Cedartown) is a three-time Paralympian who has won both a Silver and a Bronze medal in past Paralympic Marathons. He will be competing in both the 5000 m and the marathon in London. Krige is also an accomplished tri-athlete and is currently the World Record holder in the Ironman Triathlon.

Meet the other State of Georgia Paralympians Amanda Dennis (Peachtree City) is a first Paralympian with eight years of tournament experience

Amanda is the youngest player on the Goalball squad at the age of 18.

a degree in political science. Lee Ford (Perry) is a first-time Paralympian and the only women on the seven member US Paralympic Archery Team.

4 Meet the other State of Georgia Paralympians Amanda Dennis (Peachtree City) is a first Paralympian with eight years of tournament experience competing in 18 different regional, national and international competitions since Amanda is the youngest player on the Goalball squad at the age of 18. She graduated high school this year and plans on following up the London Paralympics with plans on attending College in the spring of 2013 to pursue a degree in political science. Lee Ford (Perry) is a first-time Paralympian and the only women on the seven member US Paralympic Archery Team. Lee was the 2011 Gold medalist at Parapan American Games, Guadalajara, Mexico. Lee is currently ranked 12th in American able-bodied archery. David Prince grew up in Marrietta and attended Chapel Hill High School in Atlanta. Davis won Gold in both the 400m and 200m at the 2011 Parapan American Games.

Meet the other State of Georgia Paralympians Jarryd Wallace (Athens) is also a first-time Paralympian. He won a Gold medal in the 100 meters at the 2011 Parapan American Games.

In 2006 he was introduced to field events through the US Paralympic Military Sports Camp. He competed in shotput at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and finished 5 th.

5 Meet the other State of Georgia Paralympians Jarryd Wallace (Athens) is also a first-time Paralympian. He won a Gold medal in the 100 meters at the 2011 Parapan American Games. Jarryd is a graduate of Oconee County High School and is currently enrolled at the University of Georgia getting his Bachelors in Speech Communication. Scott Winkler (Augusta) joined the U.S. Army a few years after high school and became a service technician in 2003 he fell off an ammo truck in Tikrit, Iraq, resulting in paralysis. In 2006 he was introduced to field events through the US Paralympic Military Sports Camp. He competed in shotput at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and finished 5 th. Scott won a Gold medal in the shotput and a Bronze medal at the 2011 Para Pan American Games.

Not just for the gold: Paralympic swimmer wants to help others aim high

Not just for the gold: Paralympic swimmer wants to help others aim high By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 09.12.16 Word Count 794 Gizzy, a German shepherd, serves as a guide dog and companion