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 Detlaf Eckert Germany |
 Jorg Frischmann Germany |
 Jami Goldman USA |
 John Gravino USA |
 Jakob Mathiason Denmark |
 Reinhild Moeller Germany |
 Lindsay Nielsen USA |
 Sarah Reinertsen USA |
 Marlon Shirley USA |
 Didier Simons Belgium |
 Tony Volpentest USA |
 Stephen Watson Australia |
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Detlaf Eckert | Germany |
| Events: Javelin, Shot Put, Pentathlon | Class: F42 | |
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About Detlaf: Detlaf is a scientist working for the Parliament in Germany. He was very tired this week since he was working on Tuesday and flew to the states on Wednesday. He felt that this has had some affect on his performance. He won a silver in Atlanta in the Shot Put with 12.26m. He took 3rd place this year at the Ultimate Challenge in the Shot put with 11.5 meters. |
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Jorg Frischmann | Germany |
| Events: Javelin, Shot Put | Class: F44 | |
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About Jorg: His disabilities are congenital, and have not stopped him from athletic performance. He has been competing in disabled sports since 1986, starting in swimming and table tennis (In Europe, swimming is typically the first sport that people with disabilities start with in their rehabilitation process). In 1987, he started training in track and field. In 1990 he won 3 medals in his first competition in Assen, in The Netherlands. His highlights were in Barcelona when he took first place in the Shot Put and 2nd in the Javelin. He won the silver medal in Shot Put in the '96 Paralympics in Atlanta. He is one of only four athletes to achieve a javelin throw of over 50 meters, and one of six that have placed the shot put more than 14 meters. He competes for the Bayer Leverkusen sports club. He currently studies Sports at the University of Cologne and will finish in October. He will work in disabled sports in Germany. |
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Jami Goldman | Huntington Beach, CA, USA |
| Events: 100m, 200m, Long Jump | Class: T43 | |
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About Jami: I have been an amputee for 10 years. I have been involved with elite sports for 1.5 years. I enjoy everything about this level of competitiveness. I have a B.S. degree in communication from A.S.U. and a B.A. in child development from California State University Long Beach. I work with preschool children, and I also "try" to train full time. I want to thank Springlite for supplying me with these awesome legs. I know with my new "Springlite Sprinters" that I will become the best I can be. |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? "The Ultimate Challenge was an awesome event. I felt very privileged to be invited as a participant. I enjoyed meeting all of the other competitors from many different countries. I think it is amazing what Flex-Foot has done for athletes in the amputee world. I only hope the women will receive more acknowledgment as elite athletes. I feel more people need to be aware of how much effort we put into this level of competition." |
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John Gravino | Cleveland, OH, USA |
| Events: 100m, 200m | Class: T42 | |
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About John: This was his second Ultimate Challenge, and 5th year competing. It is only his second year running on a leg that was designed for running. He is 31 years old and is part owner of a ceiling restoration business. He enjoys racquetball and running track. He has a B.A. in economics, and enjoys playing guitar. This was the first meet of the year and he will be competing in the DSUSA summer nationals in two weeks. |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? "This meet is awesome... it's the greatest place to run." |
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Jakob Mathiason | Denmark |
| Events: Long Jump, Javelin, Pentathlon | Class: T42 | |
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About Jakob: 27 years old, studying to become a physiotherapist. Played basketball for 17 years, and in 1995 started training for track and field events. In 1996 he competed in the Paralympics and placed 2nd in Javelin (43.38m), 3rd in Pentathlon and 6th in the high jump (1.73m). |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? "I am very happy to participate in the Flex-Foot Ultimate Challenge. There is a very good atmosphere and the competition is great." |
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Reinhild Moeller | Germany |
| Events: Long Jump, 100 m, 200m | Class: T44 | |
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About Reinhild: Won all three of her events, the Long Jump, 100m and 200m. Set world records in the Long Jump and 100m. Reinhild was also honored with the "Outstanding Athlete of the Meet" award. |
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 tmoeller@aol.com
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Lindsay Nielsen | Minneapolis, MN, USA |
| Events: 100m, 200m, Marathon | Class: T44 | |
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About Lindsay: She is a psychotherapist who enjoys Thai kickboxing, cycling and distance running. She is also a writer and mother of a 5-year-old and a 17-year-old. Lindsay is also the world record holder in the Marathon. |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? "The Ultimate Challenge is a great event. One of the most frustrating things about 'disabled' sports is that there is so much inequity between how the men and the women athletes are treated, supported and recognized. It is apparent that Flex-Foot is beginning the process of addressing this but the inequity needs to be addressed on all levels by sponsorship, coaching, media representation and by the athletes themselves. The women want to be able to reach their potential without significant changes." |
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Sarah Reinertsen | New York, USA |
| Events: 100m, 200m, Marathon | Class: T42 | |
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About Sarah: A Graduate student at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) pursuing a masters degree in broadcast journalism. Graduated from George Washington University with a degree in International Affairs and Communications. She competed in the NYC Marathon in 11/97 and the Los Angeles Marathon in 3/98. Sarah encourages more women to come out and get involved with disabled sports. |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? "I enjoyed the competition. It's so impressive to have such a professional event with great financial support. It's important to have events like this for disabled sports." |
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Marlon Shirley | USA |
| Events: Long Jump, Javelin, 100 m | Class: T44 | |
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About Marlon: 20 years old, moved from Utah to WA a year ago to train full time with Brian Hoddle. He is sponsored by Springlite and Northwest Prosthetics and Orthotics. He raced with Dan O'Brian in a 55 meter indoor and finished in 7.05 sec. He broke the record in the long jump with 6.21m. He is going to aviation school for piloting and will be attending Puget Sound in Olympia, WA for sports medicine and sports psychology. |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? "Flex-Foot has done an outstanding job and I hope that they continue this event!" |
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Didier Simons | Belgium |
| Events: Discus, Shotput, Pentathlon | Class: T42 | |
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About Didier: Second time in Ultimate Challenge. 34 years old. He is the technical advisor for the Disabled Sports Federation of Belgium (French-Speaking). He had an accident in 1989, but was not held back. He began athletics again within a few months, and received his first title in the Javelin at the Belgian Championship in 1989. He also holds Belgian titles in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and pentathlon. Enjoys scuba diving as another recreational activity. He would like to thank his sponsors Loth/Fabenim B.V. in The Netherlands and Orthopedie Van Haesendonck N.V. in Belgium. |
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What do you think about the Ultimate Challenge? Great event which helps teach the world about athletes with disabilities. |
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Tony Volpentest | Everett, WA, USA |
| Events: 100m, 200m | Class: T44 | |
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About Tony: Tony is 25 years old, and started running as sophomore in high school. His first time was 16.9s in the 100m, without his Flex Feet. His first major competition was in Barcelona in '92 where he broke two world records, the 100m with a time of 11.63s and the 200m with a time of 23.07s. The record for the 200m still stands. He reset the 100m record in Atlanta at the Paralympics with a time of 11.36s. He raced against Neil Fuller in one of the Undercard races of the One To One Challenge of Champions in Toronto where Michael Johnson raced Donovan Bailey to determine the worlds fastest man. Due to a hamstring pull, Tony was not able to compete in the 100 meter this year. He will be competing in the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York, July 19-22 in a special invitational event. Tony and his wife Alison just had their first baby, Alexander Christian Michael, on April 7. Tony says that the amount of joy that this has brought into his life far exceeds any expectations that he had. |
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Stephen Watson | Australia |
| Events: 100m, 200m, 400m | Class: T44 | |
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About Stephen: 26 year old carpenter. Has been training for one year, and this is his first time in the Ultimate Challenge. Placed 6th in the 100m, 3rd in the 200m and 3rd in the 400m. |
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