ACSM Winter Olympics Expert Commentary

Latest news from Team USA Paralympics

Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was the top U.S. finisher in Monday's standing slalom races. Jones took fifth place in the women's race, while Monte Meier (Park City, Utah) had the highest placing for the men in eighth.

Team USA had a great day on the curling ice Monday, defeating Italy and Great Britain. The win over GB came on the last rock, in extra ends. Team USA is currently tied with Canada for first place with four games remaining in round robin play.

Kelly Underkofler (St. Paul, Minn.) was the only U.S. athlete to hit the cross country track on Monday. Underkofler took eighth place in the women's standing 15km event.

Andy Soule (Pearland, Texas), a retired U.S. Army veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, won a bronze medal in the biathlon pursuit on Saturday 3/13 to claim the first U.S. medal of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

On Sunday 3/14, Stephani Victor (Park City, Utah) led the way for Team USA in Whistler, winning silver in the women's sit-ski slalom. This is Victor's third career Paralympic medal and the first U.S. alpine skiing medal of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Five-time Paralympian Chris Waddell was inducted into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame on Sunday, becoming the first American to receive the honor. Waddell has a career 12 winter Paralympic medals and one summer Paralympic medal.

ACSM Fellows participate in Paralympic team physician conference

Health care professionals who work with Paralympic athletes convened today at the first-ever National Paralympic Committee Team Physician Conference.

The conference focused on Medical Care and Services in the Paralympic Winter Sports Environment. Several ACSM Fellows served as presenters, including Walter Thompson, Ph.D., FACSM, and Stuart Willick, M.D., FACSM.

For all Paralympics developments and news, visit www.paralympic.org.

Three inspiring Paralympics stories

The Paralympic Games have begun! Read on for three inspiring stories (courtesy of the U.S. Olympic Committee) of Paralympians in this year's Games. Which Paralympian's story touches your heart the most?

Alexi Salamone. Adopted from the Ukraine after being born with deformed legs as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Alexi just wanted to be like other kids. Wrestling and sled hockey made that possible. Now years later, Alexi has been named to his second U.S. Paralympic Team.

Heath Calhoun. After losing both legs while serving in Iraq as a squad leader for the 101st airborne, Heath learned to ski through the Disabled Sports USA Wounded Warrior Project and the Disabled American Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Paralympic sport became a critical part of his rehabilitation. His three-year-old son now says, "Daddy, you can run with me again." Heath has been named to the U.S. Paralymic Team and is honored to be the U.S. Flag Bearer for Opening Ceremonies.

Nikko Landerros. A high school wrestler, Nikko and his best friend were hit by a car in 2007. Both boys lost their legs. Shortly after, Nikko toured the Olympic Training Center, visited with Paralympic ambassadors, and was introduced to sled hockey. Today Nikko is a proud member of the 2010 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

Paralympic Hall of Fame inductees announced

The IPC has selected three Paralympic greats for induction in 2010. They are cross-country skier Tanja Kari (FIN), alpine skier Chris Waddell (USA), and Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing coach Rolf Hettich (GER). The three inductees were nominated by member organizations of the IPC based on their athletic performance, history of fair play and participation in community service. Kari, Waddell and Hettich then were selected by the IPC's Governing Board.


The Paralympic Hall of Fame ensures that a permanent record and institutional memory is kept of top Paralympic athletes and coaches of all time, thus honouring the performers who achieved a high and sustained level of success in the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games.

In order to be eligible, athletes and coaches must have achieved a very high and sustained level of success at the Paralympic Games. They must also have consistently displayed a spirit of fair play, and made a positive contribution to the Paralympic Movement. They must have ceased their participation in Paralympic sporting competition for at least four years (one Paralympic Games cycle).

Paralympic Hall of Fame election and induction ceremonies are held in conjunction with the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games, and consequently take place only during those years in which the Paralympic Games are held. The Paralympic Hall of Fame currently exists as a virtual Hall of Fame on the IPC Website at http://www.paralympic.org/hof/main.html.

Previous Paralympic Hall of Fame inductees are:

2006 - Annemie Schneider (Germany) - Alpine Skiing;
Jouko Grip (Finland) - Nordic Skiing;
Ulla Renvall (Sweden) - Nordic Skiing (Coach and Guide).

2008 - Connie Hansen (Denmark) - Athletics; Claudia Hengst (Germany) - Swimming;
Peter Homann (Australia) - Cycling;
Andre Viger (Canada) - Athletics;
Kevin McIntosh (Australia) - Cycling.

Latest news from the Paralympic Games

Paralympics Go Multimedia
As the entire media team of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) will soon be heading to Canada for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, all preparations are in their final stages. The Games do not begin for another 11 days, however various tools and channels are already in place to relay as much information as possible to Paralympic fans around the world... Read more

Paralympics in Vancouver 2010
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), and the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), announced on 25 February that Sam Sullivan will be Canada's Paralympic Ambassador and also announced additional funding for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. As Canada's Paralympic Ambassador, Mr. Sullivan will bring a greater visibility to the Paralympic Movement while showcasing Canadian leadership and athletic excellence.

Watch the action in Vancouver at the Paralympics - right at your own desk! Click here for an online viewing lineup.