Page 16 - Thunderbolt 5-29-15

16 May 29, 2015 Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil

U.S. Paralympics team trains on Luke turf

by Senior Airman
DEVANTE WILLIAMS

56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Participants competed in the wheelchair sprints during the Desert Challenge Games. Event participants competed in the shot
put, discus, javelin, long jump, triple jump, high jump, a marathon, and the 100-, 200-, 400-, 800-, 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs.
Luke Air Force Base Fitness Center
opened its doors to more than 14 U.S. Para- ´:H EURXJKW WKH DWKOHWHV LQWR WKH HQYL-
lympic competitors May 12 through 15 to ronment they will compete in to help them
prepare for the Desert Challenge Games acclimate and get a week of training with
that took place May 17 at Arizona State national team coaches,” said Kallie Quinn,
University in Tempe. U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Divi-
sion associate emerging sports program
The Desert Challenge Games are a director. “It was a great training site with
regional competition for individuals with helpful Airmen that allowed our athletes to
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U.S. and international athletes with per-
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who are interested in competitive athletics. results, visit www.desertchallengegames.
com.
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the early 1980s with a small group of track
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ing sports and recreation opportunities for
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From there it grew into a competitive sport-
ing event mirroring many of the events held
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an individual can compete and aspire to-
ward a goal. The Paralympics has grown
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with 22 sports with 526 medal events, and
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sports and roughly 72 events.

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achieve,” said Scott Winkler, U.S. Para-
lympian. Winkler is an Army veteran who
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2003 during his deployment. He won a gold
medal during the 2007 Para Pan American
Games and also competed for Team USA at
the 2008 Summer Paralympics.

Participants trained using the facilities
at Luke Air Force Base to prepare for this
past weekend’s qualifying events. The
participants training competed in shot put,
discus, javelin; 100-, 200-, and 400-meter
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Athletes qualify under the Athlete Develop-
ment Program and train for three days with
national-level coaches. Paralympic hopefuls
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a recreational athlete to a professional ath-
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national team.

Members of the U.S. Paralympics shot put group toss back and forth a medicine ball Scott Winkler, U.S. Paralympic, throws the shot put May 16 during the Desert Chal-
May 13 during a training session at Luke. The competitors were training for the Des- OHQJH*DPHVDW$UL]RQD6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\LQ7HPSH:LQNOHUSODFHG¿UVWLQWKH
ert Challenge Games, which is a multiday competition for individuals ages 6 through
adulthood with a physical disability. event. Arizona Disabled Sports hosted the event. They provide athletic opportunities

for disabled athletes.