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Looking for a Triple Crown Wheelchair Racer Could Be First to Win 3 Major Marathons in a Season
(about 4 hours later)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On a recent afternoon, Tatyana McFadden wheeled her racing chair onto a quiet street to begin a training session. She rolled through the University of Illinois campus here, past the football stadium, by a cemetery and then a residential street lined with bungalows. Cornfields were in the distance. Her legs, which she has never used to walk, were tucked beneath her torso.CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On a recent afternoon, Tatyana McFadden wheeled her racing chair onto a quiet street to begin a training session. She rolled through the University of Illinois campus here, past the football stadium, by a cemetery and then a residential street lined with bungalows. Cornfields were in the distance. Her legs, which she has never used to walk, were tucked beneath her torso.
McFadden kept her head down, her back muscles rippling with each stroke of her arms. After 10 miles, her loop was finished. She was back at the education rehab center, wearing a bright smile.McFadden kept her head down, her back muscles rippling with each stroke of her arms. After 10 miles, her loop was finished. She was back at the education rehab center, wearing a bright smile.
“Before, 10 miles used to be so hard,” she said. “Now it’s just a recovery day.”“Before, 10 miles used to be so hard,” she said. “Now it’s just a recovery day.”
McFadden, a 24-year-old senior, was born with spina bifida, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. She arrived on campus as a decorated sprinter, and she has 12 medals — three gold — from the last three Paralympic Games, in Athens, Beijing and London.McFadden, a 24-year-old senior, was born with spina bifida, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. She arrived on campus as a decorated sprinter, and she has 12 medals — three gold — from the last three Paralympic Games, in Athens, Beijing and London.
Now she is one of the world’s leading long-distance wheelchair athletes, having won the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon this year. When she races in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, she will attempt to become the first person — able-bodied or disabled — to win three major marathons in the same year.Now she is one of the world’s leading long-distance wheelchair athletes, having won the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon this year. When she races in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, she will attempt to become the first person — able-bodied or disabled — to win three major marathons in the same year.
As if that were not enough, she has also taken up cross-country skiing, with plans to compete in her native Russia at next year’s Paralympics in Sochi.As if that were not enough, she has also taken up cross-country skiing, with plans to compete in her native Russia at next year’s Paralympics in Sochi.
“I guess I’m a little crazy,” McFadden said.“I guess I’m a little crazy,” McFadden said.
Her track coach, Adam Bleakney, said, “She’s just incredibly, incredibly talented.”Her track coach, Adam Bleakney, said, “She’s just incredibly, incredibly talented.”
McFadden grew up in an orphanage in St. Petersburg, where she was never given a wheelchair. She spent her first six years walking on her hands before Deborah McFadden, then the director of the International Children’s Alliance, adopted her during an overseas trip. After taking to sports in her childhood, Tatyana McFadden fought through the courts in high school in Maryland to compete against able-bodied runners.McFadden grew up in an orphanage in St. Petersburg, where she was never given a wheelchair. She spent her first six years walking on her hands before Deborah McFadden, then the director of the International Children’s Alliance, adopted her during an overseas trip. After taking to sports in her childhood, Tatyana McFadden fought through the courts in high school in Maryland to compete against able-bodied runners.
When McFadden arrived from Russia, she used a phrase that meant “I can do it myself,” Deborah McFadden said. “And that’s just what she’s done. She’s never been afraid to try anything.”When McFadden arrived from Russia, she used a phrase that meant “I can do it myself,” Deborah McFadden said. “And that’s just what she’s done. She’s never been afraid to try anything.”
Tatyana McFadden does much of her training at the education rehab center in a gym the wheelchair track team shares with the wheelchair basketball team. Because of the disabilities she and her teammates face, many of the exercises are done with modified equipment.Tatyana McFadden does much of her training at the education rehab center in a gym the wheelchair track team shares with the wheelchair basketball team. Because of the disabilities she and her teammates face, many of the exercises are done with modified equipment.
For push-ups, athletes are stabilized by a harness suspended from the ceiling and tied around their torsos. The same harness is used for another exercise that involves walking on their hands up and down a set of homemade wood stairs.For push-ups, athletes are stabilized by a harness suspended from the ceiling and tied around their torsos. The same harness is used for another exercise that involves walking on their hands up and down a set of homemade wood stairs.
As McFadden did a set of pull-ups, Bleakney pointed to her impressive back muscles.As McFadden did a set of pull-ups, Bleakney pointed to her impressive back muscles.
“That’s why we call her the beast,” he said.“That’s why we call her the beast,” he said.
Before going to Illinois, McFadden did not compete in events longer than the 800 meters, which she said was her worst. But partly for team camaraderie, the training and also the visibility for wheelchair track, Bleakney persuaded McFadden to enter the 2009 Chicago Marathon. She won.Before going to Illinois, McFadden did not compete in events longer than the 800 meters, which she said was her worst. But partly for team camaraderie, the training and also the visibility for wheelchair track, Bleakney persuaded McFadden to enter the 2009 Chicago Marathon. She won.
“He told me to think of it as doing the 400, but 100 times,” McFadden said. “It turned out to be good advice.”“He told me to think of it as doing the 400, but 100 times,” McFadden said. “It turned out to be good advice.”
Bleakney pointed to McFadden’s body as part of the explanation for how she can excel in such a variety of events. She has a long torso and long arms and is very light in her legs. Then there is her well-developed musculature, which was probably helped by the years of walking on her hands, Bleakney said.Bleakney pointed to McFadden’s body as part of the explanation for how she can excel in such a variety of events. She has a long torso and long arms and is very light in her legs. Then there is her well-developed musculature, which was probably helped by the years of walking on her hands, Bleakney said.
“For me, the days at the orphanage were as much about finding mental strength as physical strength,” McFadden said. “It may have helped my arms and shoulders, but it also taught me that I was always going to find a way to do something.”“For me, the days at the orphanage were as much about finding mental strength as physical strength,” McFadden said. “It may have helped my arms and shoulders, but it also taught me that I was always going to find a way to do something.”
Last winter McFadden skied for the first time, and she fell on her first run. But she quickly learned her new sport well enough to finish in the top five, and lead the United States team, in her three events at the Nordic Skiing World Cup in January.Last winter McFadden skied for the first time, and she fell on her first run. But she quickly learned her new sport well enough to finish in the top five, and lead the United States team, in her three events at the Nordic Skiing World Cup in January.
Of a likely trip to Sochi next year, McFadden said: “People with disabilities in Russia before were hidden. They were not medically taken care of well and definitely not in sports. I can show them a success story.”Of a likely trip to Sochi next year, McFadden said: “People with disabilities in Russia before were hidden. They were not medically taken care of well and definitely not in sports. I can show them a success story.”
After her first taste of skiing competition, McFadden won the Boston and the London Marathons and continued her track dominance at the world championships in Lyon, France. She won gold medals in six events — from the 100 meters to the 5,000 meters — in the T-54 classification, for those with functioning arms but no leg or trunk function.After her first taste of skiing competition, McFadden won the Boston and the London Marathons and continued her track dominance at the world championships in Lyon, France. She won gold medals in six events — from the 100 meters to the 5,000 meters — in the T-54 classification, for those with functioning arms but no leg or trunk function.
The fall means a return to the marathon season and a chance to make history, first in Chicago and then later in New York.The fall means a return to the marathon season and a chance to make history, first in Chicago and then later in New York.
As for what might be next for her daughter, Deborah McFadden can only wonder. She chuckled recalling the story of someone who recently suggested to the family that the Iditarod might be something to try.As for what might be next for her daughter, Deborah McFadden can only wonder. She chuckled recalling the story of someone who recently suggested to the family that the Iditarod might be something to try.
“Tatyana goes, ‘Oh yeah, that sounds great,’ ” her mother said. “I said: ‘Please close your mouth. We don’t need that idea.’ ”“Tatyana goes, ‘Oh yeah, that sounds great,’ ” her mother said. “I said: ‘Please close your mouth. We don’t need that idea.’ ”