CAF athletes shine at the 2019 Parapan American Games
Photo credit above: Ezra Frech Instagram, Scout Bassett Instagram, Haven Faith Shepherd Instagram
The Parapan American Games is an international multi-sports event for athletes with physical disabilities. The first games were held in 1999 with 1,000 athletes across 18 countries participating in four sports: athletics, swimming, table tennis, and wheelchair basketball. The event has taken place every four years since, with the most recent taking place in Lima in August. A record 1,850 athletes competed in 17 sports.
This year, the USA placed second overall with 185 medals. We’re proud to say that 30% of those medals came from CAF grant recipients! For some sports, Parapan American Games were a qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. USA qualified in the wheelchair rugby, men’s wheelchair basketball, women’s wheelchair basketball and goalball. Congratulations to all of TEAM USA!
A few highlights from CAF ATHLETES
1.THE SWEEP in Women’s Long jump!
It was a TEAM USA sweep in the Women’s Long Jump T42-44/T61-63! Our CAF Ambassador Scout Basset won gold, CAF grant recipient Lacey Henderson won silver, while 15-year-old Catherine Annie Carey took home bronze! Scout has been a part of our CAF family since she was a little girl, and Annie too! As Annie lives in Idaho, she has become a big part of our new CAF Idaho family.
2. Haven Shepherd: USA PARASWIMMING
Haven Shepherd took home two silver medals and a bronze medal at her first Parapan American Games! Haven has been a part of our CAF family since she was a little girl. Every year Haven joins us at our Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge and swims the 1-mile swim, and then runs with the younger generation during the Kid’s Run. Watch this video of Haven when she was 9-years-old
Haven’s medals:
- Silver Medal: Women’s 100m breast stroke SB7
- Silver Medal: Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM8
- Bronze Medal: Women’s 50m Freestyle S8
3. Sydney Barta: USA Paratrack & Field
15-year-old Sydney Barta is a Parapan American Games Champion! She won gold in the Women’s 200m and set a record! It was Sydney’s first Parapan American Games. She also won Bronze in Women’s Discus Throw F64.Sydney is a CAF grant recipient, and last August she tried out the sport of triathlon at our Youth Paratriathlon Camp in San Diego.
Sydney’s medals:
- Gold in Women’s 200m T64
- Bronze in Women’s Discus Throw F64
4. EZRA FRECH: USA PARATRACK & FIELD
Ezra Frech took home two silver medals at the Parapan American Games! One in the high jump, and another in the long jump. Ezra has been a big part of our CAF family since he was born. Even though Ezra is only 14-years-old he is already a mentor for the younger generation of CAF athletes, and has helped his dad create and run Angel City Sports
Ezra’s medals:
- Silver in Men’s High Jump T42-47/T63-64
- Silver in Men’s Long Jump T63/64
5. BRANDON LYONS: USA PARACYCLING
Brandon Lyons took home two silver medals at the Parapan American Games in cycling! For the last two years in October, CAF grant recipient Brandon has been riding down the coast of California with us for the 7-day, 620-mile Million Dollar Challenge Ride raising money for our mission to empower individuals with physical challenges through sports.
Brandon’s medals:
- Silver Medal: Men’s Road Race H3-5
- Silver Medal: Mixed Time Trial H1-5
6. KIM CROSBY & ERIK HIGHTOWER
Power couple of Team USA! Kim won gold in the 100m T13, while Erik took home two silver medals in the Men’s 400m, and Men’s 100m T54. This upcoming high school track season, both Erik and Kim will be helping coach our CAF High School Adaptive Sports Program.
Kim & Erik’s medals:
- Gold Medal in Women’s 100m T13
- Silver Medal in Men’s 400 m T54
- Silver Medal in Men’s 100m T54
- Gold Medal in the Universal 4X100 m relay
These are just a few of the incredible achievements of CAF grant recipients at the Parapan American Games. In total over 60 grant recipients won medals! Congratulations to all, and to every member of Team USA!