Chicago Marathon Wheelchair Racer Hopes to Power to Paralympic Gold

Wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden has dominated at the Chicago Marathon and now she’s ready to take on the Paralympics in Rio.

The University of Illinois alum earned her ticket to Rio by conquering the streets of Chicago last October. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon served as a wheelchair marathon qualifier for the 2016 Paralympic Games.

“I am only 26 years old and to have already have competed in five games is unbelievable,” McFadden said. “It is always humbling and honoring because it takes a lot of work to make the team.”

McFadden, who has won 10 medals, has previously only competed on the track at the Paralympic Games. This will be her first Paralympic marathon.

“I will be doing six events: 100, 400, 800, 1500, 5000 and the marathon,” McFadden said. “I will be a very busy girl for those two weeks.”

She recalls her first Paralympic gold medal in London for the 400 meters fondly.

“Watching the flag go up and singing the national anthem, it really brought chills to my body,” she said.

Now, she hopes to get that feeling again in Rio. She is dominating at the wheelchair marathon distance, winning the “Grand Slam”—the Chicago, Boston, London and New York marathons for three consecutive years.

She credits her success to the world renowned wheelchair track program at the University of Illinois. All four wheelchair marathon athletes representing the U.S. have participated in the program.

“It is absolutely motivating to train with 22 others at the University of Illinois in Champaign,” McFadden said. “(It) really brings competition every single day and I really think it makes me a stronger and a better athlete.”

McFadden said she earned a unique nickname in 2009 after finishing a grueling Chicago Marathon that’s indicative of her love for going the distance.

“My coach gave me the nickname The Beast after I competed in my first marathon in Chicago and happened to win that marathon,” she said. “He goes ‘I am nicknaming you The Beast, you have the speed and power like nobody I have ever seen.”

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