The Olympics were exciting but we’re ready for the Paralympics! The 2021 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan will begin on August 24, 2021. As in years past, this event isn’t focused on disability, it’s focused on the many athletic accomplishments and achievements of athletes from around the world. This year, we thought it would be fun to come together and cheer on the athletes from the Spina Bifida community who will be representing Team USA! 

You can find the Paralympic games competition schedule by day here.

Meet the athletes from Team USA who have Spina Bifida:

• Shelby Baron
  • Sport: Wheelchair Tennis 
  • Hometown: Honolulu, HI
  • Follow Shelby on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

• Hannah Dederick 
  • Sport: Track and Field
  • Hometown: Mead, WA
  • Follow Hannah on Instagram
• Kendall Gretsch
  • Sport: Paratriathalon
  • Hometown: Downers Grove, IL
• Eric Hightower
  • Sport: Track and Field
  • Hometown: Pheonix, AZ
  • Follow Eric on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
• Gianfranco Iannotta
  • Sport: Track and Field
  • Hometown: Garfield, NJ
• Emmy Kaiser
  • Sport: Wheelchair Tennis
  • Hometown: Ft. Mitchell, KY

• Tatyana McFadden
  • Sport: Track and Field
  • Hometown: Baltimore, MD
  • Follow Tatyana on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• Daniel Romanchuk
  • Sport: Track and Field
  • Hometown: Mount Airy, MD
  • Follow Daniel on Facebook and Instagram
• Casey Ratzlaff
  • Sport: Wheelchair Tennis
  • Hometown: Wichita, KS
  • Follow Casey on Instagram
• Matt Scott 
  • Sport: Wheelchair Basketball
  • Hometown: Detroit, MI
  • Follow Matt on Instagram and Twitter
• Josh Turek
  • Sport: Wheelchair Basketball
  • Hometown: Council Bluffs, IA
  • Follow Josh on Instagram

Are you hoping to watch these athletes compete? Check out the Paralympic schedule.

Did we miss anyone on Team USA or would you like to highlight a Paralympian living with Spina Bifida from another country? Let us know!

Featured image: Daniel Romanchuk at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.