Tony Volpentest

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Tony Volpentest (* 1973 in Edmonds , Washington ) is a former American sprinter, Paralympic winner and world record holder who was born without feet or hands due to a genetic defect.

Career

At the age of 15, Volpentest began athletics in high school . In his races with “non-disabled people” he usually finished last (e.g. 16.9 seconds over the 100 meters), but this changed after he started with high-quality Flex-Foot Cheetah carbon prostheses . Even then, he was running times that came close to the Paralympic records.

He became known worldwide from 1992 with his successes at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona , when he won the gold medal in the 100 and 200 meters . He was able to repeat these successes in Atlanta in 1996.

He was given a special honor in 1996 when he was the flag bearer of the US team at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta .

Successes (excerpt)

Due to the lack of both feet, Volpentest is assigned to category T43 , but he usually started in category T44 (amputation of a leg below the knee):

World Championships 1990 Saint-Étienne

  • 100 meters - gold medal
  • 200 meters - gold medal
  • 400 meters - gold medal

1992 Barcelona Paralympics

  • 100 meters - gold medal - 11.63 seconds
  • 200 meters - gold medal - 23.07 seconds
  • 4 × 100 meters - silver medal - 45.97 seconds

1996 Atlanta Paralympics

  • 100 meters - gold medal - 11.36 seconds
  • 200 meters - gold medal - 23.28 seconds

World Championships 1999 Barcelona

  • 100 meters - gold medal
  • 200 meters - gold medal - 22.85 seconds

Paralympics 2000 Sydney

  • 100 meters - 4th place - 11.81 seconds
  • 200 meters - DNF

Private life

Today Volpentest lives with his son (* 1998) in Chandler ( Arizona ) and enjoys golf, taekwondo, bowling, basketball, soccer, cycling, swimming and running in his free time.

See also

swell

  1. ↑ 1998 Flex-Foot Ultimate Challenge Track and Field Invitational

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Volpentest, Tony
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American athlete
DATE OF BIRTH 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH Edmonds, Washington