Mikhaila Rutherford

Mikhaila Rutherford is an American former paralympic swimmer. She won three gold medals and one silver at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.

Early life

Rutherford was born in a small Russian village around 30 kilometers from Chernoby, which was the site of a nuclear disaster in 1986. As a result of the disaster, Rutherford was born premature and missing limbs. Due to her disability, her parents put her up for adoption where she was taken in by an American woman at the age of four.[1] She began swimming at the age of eight and competed in swimming competitions in high school.[2]

Career

While attending Alameda High School, Rutherford was invited to compete with Team USA's National Swim Team.[3] She qualified for the 2002 IPC World Championships where she set a new world mark in the S10 Women's 100 backstroke.[4] Rutherford later beat her old world record for the Women's 100 metre backstroke S10 at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, winning gold in the making.[5][6] She finished the competition with three gold medals and one silver.[7]

After graduating from high school in 2006, Rutherford accepted a placement at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a major in biomedical engineering.[3] In 2018, Rutherford was inducted into the Alameda High School Athletic Hall of Fame.[8]

References
  1. "MIKHAILA RUTHERFORD". alamedasportsproject.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  2. "Girl disfigured by Chernoby now Paralympic swimmer". Ukiah Daily Journal. California. April 30, 2006.
  3. Hill, Angela (April 29, 2006). "Victim of Chernobyl disaster a champion island swimmer". East Bay Times. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  4. "USA Finishes With 33 Medals at Paralympic World Champs". swimmingworldmagazine.com. December 20, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  5. "Popovich captures fifth gold in Athens". Colorado Springs Gazette. Colorado. September 26, 2004.
  6. "Sixième médaille pour Dixon". rds.ca (in French). September 25, 2004. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  7. Fairley, Miki (December 2004). "PARALYMPICS SHATTERS RECORDS, RAISES THE BAR". opedge.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  8. "Hornets Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Set". alamedasun.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
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