Susan Katz

Susan Katz is an American Paralympic wheelchair basketball player. She has won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. She was previously a producer at ESPN.

Susan Katz
Personal information
Nationality United States
BornOlney, Maryland
EducationUniversity of Illinois
Medal record
Summer Paralympics
Wheelchair basketball
2004 Summer ParalympicsWheelchair basketball

Early life

Katz was born in Olney, Maryland with mild spina bifida but later moved to California.[1] At the age of ten, her legs became paralyzed after a failed spinal cord surgery.[2] While her parents encouraged her to walk with crutches and braces, she insisted on using a wheelchair.[1] Katz later attended Quince Orchard High School and the University of Illinois, where she played on the wheelchair basketball team.[3]

Career

Katz qualified for the 1996 Summer Paralympics where she competed in discus, javelin and shot put.[3] After qualifying for the U.S. Paralympics Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team in 2004, Katz was a member of the team that won the gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Athens. Over six games on the way to the gold medal, she played 72 minutes and collected 10 points and 17 rebounds.[4]

Upon retiring, Katz became the director of Paralympic and Disability Sport, World Sport Chicago.[5] She also worked with sports network ESPN as an associate producer of their show Around the Horn and production assistant for SportsCenter.[6] In 2013, Katz become the first American woman handcyclist to complete the Ironman World Championship.[7]

References
  1. Merrell, Gerald P. (September 21, 2004). "There's no confining her competitive spirit". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  2. Schiffman Tufano, Lizzie (October 11, 2013). "River North Chef Helps Streeterville Para-Athlete Tackle Iron Man Race". dnainfo.com. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  3. Thomson, Candace (March 21, 2004). "Katz to compete in paralympics". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  4. "Paralympics ceremony canceled after collision". Baltimore Sun. September 24, 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  5. Thomas, Victoria (July 19, 2013). "Third time is the charm for Chicago". teamusa.org. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  6. Lopez, Juan (June 24, 2009). "Paralympian dreams of Hawaii". The Gazette. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  7. Jean Hirst, Ellen (October 13, 2013). "1st American woman handcyclist completes Ironman race". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
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