IM Amanda McGrory...

Amanda McGrory has traveled the world, overcome personal hardship, competed and succeeded at the highest levels of sport, and most importantly lives a life that inspires all who come in contact with her to strive to achieve their goals. And she is only 22.

At an early age, athletic success was not tantamount on the minds of Amanda’s family. The Philadelphia-area native was diagnosed a rare virus called transverse myelitis at age five and lost the use of her legs. Always an energetic toddler, she was given a wheelchair at age five and almost immediately began a quest to find ways to be active at a very high level. After an extensive rehabilitation program, Amanda attended a Variety Club Camp in southeastern Pennsylvania, where a new sports program was starting up for children with disabilities. It was there, at the age of just 10, that she enrolled herself in a wheelchair sports program, and began her love affair with the sport of basketball.

She began competitive competition with her first junior national event in Mesa, Arizona in 1997, finishing second in the slalom and third in the discus.

Then in 1998, Amanda began working with world-class athlete and personal trainer Mike King, who was able to focus McGrory’s abilities and take her to a new level of competing…from local star to world class. Less than 18 months later, at the junior nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she took her first titles, winning the 1500, slalom, discus and shot put, and finishing second in an amazing four other sprint races. Her national junior success took her to the international level, where she took seven medals…five gold and two silver…and set two Australian National Junior records at the Junior Games for the Disabled in Australia in 2004.

She continued her athletic progress, concentrating more on track than basketball, and the results took the Paralympic world by storm. In 2006, Amanda finished among the top five in marathons in Oita, Japan, Duluth, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado, and then shocked the sport by winning the ING New York City Marathon in November. In the sprints, McGrory added “World Champion” to her fast growing list of titles, winning the 800 meters at the IWAS World Championships in Assen, The Netherlands and finishing second in the 400 meters.

Her accomplishments grew again in 2007, as she won and set the course record in marathons in Duluth, Denver, and Chicago and came in a narrow second in the Boston Marathon. She added “World Record Holder,” to her list in ’07, shattering the 5000 meter mark at an event in Atlanta, and setting her up for a memorable 2008 and the Beijing Paralympics.

In Beijing, the current Champagne, Illinois resident did not disappoint, winning the gold in the 5000 meters, the silver in the marathon and a pair of bronzes in the 800 and the relay, making her one of Beijing’s most decorated Paralympians. She capped the year off with a defense of her Chicago marathon title and a second place finish in New York, all leading to an amazingly bright future for one of the world’s elite, and youngest, Paralympians.

Not to be lost among the track success is her success with her first athletic love, basketball. She is a prominent member of the three time national champion University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign wheelchair basketball program, competing not just against women, but also against men’s teams. Amanda was a first team all-tournament pick in 2008, and in 2007 was an alternate for the USA Women’s National team. She will return to compete this winter for U of I during her senior season, with an unprecedented fourth straight title on the line.

Away from athletic competition, Amanda is finishing her degree in psychology at the University of Illinois. She enjoys listening to the Counting Crows and Beck, reads everything from the classics and Kurt Vonnegut to the recent works of Salman Rushdie and Junot Diaz, loves playing Guitar Hero and Tetris and is a big fan of Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. A “quasi-vegetarian,” Amanda is also a coffee hound and workout fanatic. She also remains active with the Variety Club of Philadelphia, speaking to young people about her life experiences and she hopes to go on to graduate school as she continues to compete.

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA/University of Illinois-Champagne

• WORLD NUMBER ONE in the 5000m, 5K, 10K, and marathon, 2007 season
• 2007 World Champion in the 5K and 10K
• Current world record holder in the 5000m
• Paralympic Gold Medalist in the 5000m and silver medalist in the marathon
• Two time defending Champion of the Chicago Marathon
• Three Time National Champion with the U of I Fighting Illini Wheelchair Basketball Team