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Paralympic Medalist Redefines Disabled Sports
Paralympic gold medalist Chris Waddell is another Park City local who gives new meaning to the word "grit." Sammy Linebaugh shows us how he's redefining disabled sports.
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(Nov. 3, 2001)------
A ski accident at age 20 left him paralyzed at the waist. But just 362 days later he was back on the slopes in a monoski.
He's among the world's best skiers. A five time paralympic gold medalist and three time World Champion.
He is a model-- a speaker, an international ambassador for disabled athletes.
He's graced the pages of People magazine as one of the top 50 most beautiful people.
But to these second graders, he's just-- well, cool.
J.R. Hellander/Jeremy Ranch Elementary School "I'VE NEVER EXACTLY SEEN A PARALYMPIC SKIER. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING."
THERE'S ALPINE SKIING, WHICH IS WHAT I DO. THERE'S NORDIC SKIING, WHICH IS CROSS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE WHOLE TIME. AND THEN THERE'S SLED HOCKEY.
Chris Waddell likes to talk with school kids, he says because they are the future.
Chris Waddell/Paralympic Gold Medalist: "SEEING WHAT I DO, SEEING WHAT SOME OF MY TEAMMATES DO, IT CHANGES THE WAY THEY LOOK AT DISABLED PEOPLE HOPEFULLY."
"HOW FAST DO I GO? ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR, SO THAT'S FAST. YEAH, THAT IS FAST."
Sammy Linebaugh/Eyewitness News: "MS. MCCLELLAND'S SECOND GRADE CLASS WILL SEE SOME OF THAT SPEED HERE AT PARK CITY. IN JANUARY CHRIS WILL COMPETE IN THE HUNTSMAN CUP."
And by the time the Paralympics come in March, he hopes this group will be educated fans, not just about the Paralympic Games, but what hard work can get you... no matter the goal.
The Paralympics get underway March 7th. Chris Waddell and the rest of the alpine skiiers will be competing at Snowbasin.
