Pamela_McGonigle

Pamela McGonigle

Pamela McGonigle

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Pamela "Pam" McGonigle (born 12 March 1968) is an American retired Paralympic athlete who competed in middle-distance running, she competed at four Paralympic Games. She is a Paralympic champion and a double World silver medalist. McGonigle is an ambassador for the United States Association of Blind Athletes and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2013.[1][2][3]

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Sporting career

McGonigle began her athletics career when she first started running at sixth grade. She qualified to compete at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, her father had terminal cancer and she promised him that she would win a gold medal in his honour. In her first event, McGonigle took part in the 800m B2 and won a bronze medal, in her second event, she won a gold medal in the women's 3000m B2. She believed that her father was her biggest idol while growing up.[4]

After competing at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, McGonigle gave up on running competitively as she found it difficult to find running guides to train with, she got back to running again four years later after she got a specially trained running guide dog that she adopted from the Guiding Eyes for the Blind when she was interested on the organisation's new Running Guide Program.[5][6]

Personal life

McGonigle now works as a director of development in a school for the visually impaired in Philadelphia, she is also a substitute teacher at the same school.[7]

References

  1. [1]
    "Pamela McGonigle - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 25 May 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Pam McGonigle - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 25 May 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Pam McGonigle - USABA". US Association of Blind Athletes. 25 May 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Spirit of Sport Winter 2007" (PDF). US Anti-Doping Agency. 1 January 2007.
  5. [5]
    "After a 12-Year Hiatus, This Woman Is Running Again Thanks to Her Guide Dog". Runners World. 30 June 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Pam & Maida". Ruffwear. 22 January 2019.
  7. [7]
    "Power moves: Overbrook School for the Blind's new director of development is a world class para athlete". Generocity. 26 October 2020.
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