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  • Continuing success: Illinois wheelchair racers ready for the Paralympic Games

    Susannah Scaroni, a three-time Paralympian who won gold at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, trains with her teammates on the Illinois Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Track team during early morning workouts at the track at Demirjian Park.

    Photo by Fred Zwicky

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  • To reach Adam Bleakney, email bleakney@illinois.edu or phone (217) 333-4606.

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Susannah Scaroni, a three-time Paralympian who won gold at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, trains with her teammates on the Illinois Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Track team during early morning workouts at the track at Demirjian Park.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Brian Siemann, far left, leads a group around the turn during an early morning workout at the track at Demirjian Park on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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As the sun rises over the horizon, Paralympic competitor Aaron Pike works his way around the track at Demirjian Park. Pike is an experienced Paralympian, competing in both track at the Summer Paralympics and also the biathlon and cross-country skiing at the Winter Paralympics.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Members of the team head up St. Mary’s Road after their workout. The team will gather for a send-off ceremony at DRES before heading to the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Head coach Adam Bleakney lightens the mood during a workout session for the team. Bleakney has led the Illinois Wheelchair Track and Road Racing team since 2005, creating a home for athletes to perform at the highest level. 

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Paralympic gold medalist Susannah Scaroni finishes the last pull-up during workout rotations at the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) training facility.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Eva Houston, who competed in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is head to Paris for the 2024 games, works through a training session at the training facility at DRES.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Head coach Adam Bleakney, the three-time USOPC U.S. Paralympic Coach of the Year, helps athletes maximize gains in the training room.

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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Part of the culture of the Illinois program is athletes working and growing aside elite athletes. U. of I. athletes have won 55 medals across four Paralympic Games.

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Daniel Romanchuk flies down the straightaway as he trains with the Illinois Wheelchair Track and Road Racing team.  

Photo by Fred Zwicky

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In a rest break during a training session, Eva Houston, far left, Susannah Scaroni, center left, and other athletes laugh as they share stories. 

Photo by Fred Zwicky