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Do you know who is the most famous Paralympic athlete? Since its inception in the 1960s, the Paralympic Games have been a platform where athletes with disabilities showcase their incredible skills, determination and courage. Over the years many Paralympians have risen to the occasion and have inspired millions with their achievements. They stand for the core values of the Paralympic movement – determination, equality, inspiration, and courage. Every four years, the world witnesses the wonders of the best specially-abled athletes competing in nearly 23 sports. Many Paralympians have succeeded in breaking the stereotype of being physically disabled. But, who is the most famous Paralympic athlete? Read more to get this answer!
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Trischa Zorn-Hudson – The Most Successful Paralympian of All Time
Trischa Zorn-Hudson was born with aniridia, a rare eye condition that left her blind, it was due to a genetic condition. Despite her disability, she pursued swimming from a young age and quickly became a standout athlete. She made her Paralympic debut at the age of 16 in the US, during the Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games. In her first appearance, she won seven gold medals making history.
Trischa Zorn-Hudson Medal Telly
| Paralympic Games | Total Medals | Gold Medals |
| Arnhem 1980 | 7 | 7 |
| New York 1984 | 6 | 6 |
| Seoul 1988 | 12 | 10 |
| Barcelona 1992 | 10 | 8 |
| Atlanta 1996 | 8 | 6 |
| Sydney 2000 | 7 | 4 |
| Athens 2004 | 5 | 0 |
Her most famous tournament was in 2004 when she won a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the Athens Paralympics. This event took place shortly after she lost her mother. Zorn carried the American flag during the closing ceremony, dedicating her bronze medal to her mother’s memory.
Also Read- Meet Deepa Malik, the Extraordinary Paralympian!
In her overall career, Trischa has won 55 medals, of which 41 are gold medals. Trischa Zorn’s achievements are beyond Paralympics, she became the first visually-impaired athlete to earn an NCAA Division I SCholarship and was a four-time All-American backstroker at the University of Nebraska.
| Achievement | Details |
| NCAA Division I Scholarship | First visually impaired athlete to receive the scholarship |
| International Paralympic Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2012 |
| U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2022 |
| Trischa L. Zorn Award | Established by USA Swimming to honour exceptional swimmers with disabilities |
FUN FACT – Paralympic athletes have different ranges of disabilities, hence to make it fair, the athletes are divided and allocated different ‘classifications’ in their respective sports. This helps people compete against each other with similar levels of impairment.
Also Read – Disability-Friendly Universities in the World
List of Famous Paralympic Athletes in the World
While Trisca Zorn-Hudson holds the title of the most successful and famous Paralympian, some of the other athletes who have also marked their names in the chapters of the history of the Paralympics are –
| Athlete | Country | Sport | Total Medals | Gold Medals | Achievements |
| Ragnhild Myklebust | Norway | Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice sledge | 27 | 22 | Most successful Winter Paralympian |
| Beatrice Hess | France | Para-swimming | 25 | 20 | Set nine world records at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games |
| Reinhild Moeller | Germany | Para alpine skiing, Para-athletics | 23 | 19 | First athlete with a disability to receive a $1 million sponsorship contract |
| Michael Edgson | Canada | Para-swimming | 21 | 18 | Most decorated Paralympic athlete in Canadian history |
| Sarah Storey | Great Britain | Para-swimmer and Para cyclist | 29 | 18 | Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1998 New Year Honours “for services to Swimming for People with Disabilities”. |
| Murlikant Petkar | India | Para-swimming, Javelin, Slalom, table tennis, shot put, Boxing | 4 | 4 | World Record in 50m freestyle swimming event at 37.33 secs in 1972 |
FAQs
Murlikant Petkar is one of the most famous Paralympic athletes in India, who has won 4 gold diverting in different sports even after his disabilities.
Ludwig Guttmann is called the father of Paralympic sports.
Trischa Zorn-Hudson is called the greatest Paralympic athlete of all time with in total of 55 medals of which 41 are gold medals.
The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy in the year 1960.
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