United States Association of Blind Athletes
The mission of the United States Association of Blind Athletes is to enhance the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. USABA’s strength lies in the quality of our sports and athletic events, supported by our volunteer network of credible, community-based coaches, officials, and others, to deliver outstanding sports experiences. We believe success is defined by every athlete; whether it is enjoying a recreational game with friends or earning a medal at a Paralympic Games – each individual achievement epitomizes what USABA represents.
Heather Berg
Sport: Skiing, Marathon
Occupation: Physical Therapist for the past 18 years
Career Highlights:
• 2014 Ski for Light, Alaska, member of planning committee
• 2013 Ridderrenn, Norway, official member of the Ski for Light USA Team
• Running Career, completed:
- Lake Placid Marathon
- Green Mountain Marathon
- Vermont City Marathon, two person relay
- Unplugged Half Marathon
- Shelburne Half Marathon, fall and spring races
• Skiing, mastered the following slopes:
- Solder Hollow, Utah
- Lake Placid, New York
- Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Vermont
- Trapp Family Lodge, Vermont
• Recreational athletics, for many years
- Hiking, paddling, tandem cycling, running, cross country skiing and biathlon
• Northeast Disabled Athletic Association, founding member and past member on Board of Directors for several years
• Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, past member on Board of Directors
*Heather participated in the 2014 Trolley Run
David Brown
Sport: Track and Field
Classification: T11
High School: Missouri School of the Blind '11
Alumni of CCVI, Kansas City, MO
Paralympic Experience:
• 2012 Paralympic Games
Career Highlights:
• World Record holder in the 100m (10.92) and 200 m (22.41)
• 2015: IPC Athletics World Championships, gold (100m)
• 2015: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships, 1st (100m, 400m); Parapan American Games, 1st (100m, 200m)
• 2013: IPC Athletics World Championships, 2nd (400m, 4x100 relay), 4th (100m)
• 2012: U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Trials, gold (100m, 200m)
• 2011: Parapan American Games competitor, U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships competitor; IBSA World Youth Championships Competitor
David Brown is one of the top visually impaired sprinters in the world and carries the motto of “Running4HISGlory+". Brown first realized his dream of being a Paralympian after attending the Paralympic Experience in Beijing, China. This motivated Brown to make the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team where he competed in London for his first Paralympic Games. In his spare time, Brown enjoys playing instruments and creating musical beats to gospel and Christian music. Aside from running and training, he spends his days reading, hanging out with friends, playing on the computer, making music, writing poetry and public speaking.
Shawn Cheshire
Sport: Para-Cycling
Vision loss due to traumatic brain injury.
Prior to the TBI, Shawn served in the US Army for 8 years and was a paramedic in Syracuse, NY. Attended a USABA “Learn to Race Tandem Cycling Camp” in 2012 and first tandem competition in 2013.
Career Highlights:
• 2016: UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships – 3k Pursuit – 7th, 1000m Time Trial – 11th
• 2016: US Paralympics Track Cycling Open – 1000m Time Trial – 1st, 3k Pursuit – 1st
• 2016: US Paralympics Track Cycling National Championships – 1000m Time Trial – 1st, 3k Pursuit – 1st
• 2015: UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup – Time Trial – 6th
• 2015: US Paralympics Road Cycling National Championships – Road Race – 1st, Time Trial – 1st
• 2014: US Paralympics Road Cycling National Championships – Road Race – 1st, Time Trial – 1st
• 2013: US Paralympics Road Cycling National Championships – Road Race – 3rd, Time Trial – 2nd
Amy Dixon
Sport: Paratriathlon
Occupation: Sommelier
• Diagnosed with Uveitis (an inflammatory eye disease)
Athletic Accomplishments
• 1st 2014 Manaus ITU World Paratriathlon Event
• 2nd 2014 USA Paratriathlon National Championships
• 8th 2014 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton
• 3rd 2014 Magog ITU World Paratriathlon Event
Lex Gillette
Sport: Track and Field
Diagnosed with Retina Detachments
Event: 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, Long Jump, Triple Jump
College: East Carolina University '07, Recreation Management; University of Phoenix '12, MBA
Paralympic Experience:
• 2004 Paralympic Games, silver (long jump)
• 2008 Paralympic Games, silver (long jump)
• 2012 Paralympic Games, silver (long jump)
Career Highlights:
• 2011 IPC World Championships, silver medal (triple jump), bronze medal (200m)
• 2011 Desert Challenge Games, gold medal (long jump)
• 2010 U.S. Paralympic National Championship, gold medal (long jump, triple jump 100m, 200m)
• 2010 Paralympic World Cup, bronze medal (100m)
• 2008 U.S. Paralympic National Championship, gold medal (long jump, triple jump)
• 2007 Parapan American Games, silver (long jump)
• 2006 IPC World Championship, silver (long jump)
• 2003 IBSA World Games, fifth place (long jump)
• 2003 News & Observer Athlete of the Year Award
• 2002 USABA National Championship, gold medal
• 2002 USABA Male Athlete of the Year
• World record holder, long jump
• American record holder, triple jump
*Lex participated in the 2014 + 2015 Trolley Run
Richard Hunter
Sport: Marathon, Paratriathlon
Diagonsed with Retinitis Pigmentosa
Proudest athletic accomplishments:
• Four-time Boston Marathon Age Group Qualifier
• 3rd fastest VI in North America at 70.3 Ironman distance
• 2nd VI to complete full Ironman in less than 12 hours
• Completed the 2014 Sharkfest Alcatraz Swim
• Completed the 2013 American River 50 Endurance Run
*Richard participated in the 2015 Trolley Run
Michael Kinoshita
Sport: Track and Field
Diagonsed with Achromatopsia
Proudest athletic accomplishments:
• Member of the Cal State Stanislaus Cross Country and Track & Field teams
• 4 Gold medals US Paralympic Nationals: 2014 – 5,000m & 1500m; 2013 – 1500m & 800m
• 3 Gold medals IBSA World Youth Championships – 2011
• 2012 US Paralympic Team Trails qualifier – silver medal 800m
• 7 time U.S. Paralympic High School All-American – Track & Field: 2013 in the 1500m & 800m; 2012 in the 1500m & 800m; 2011 in the 5,000m, 1500m & 800m
• 3200m Frosh/Soph League Champion – Track
*Michael participated in the 2015 Trolley Run
Markeith Price
Sport: Track and Field
Diagnosed with Optic Neuropathy
Event: 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, Long Jump
College: Tennessee State University '12, Family and Consumer Science - Fashion Merchandising
Paralympic Experience:
• 2012 Paralympic Games - 6th (long jump), 8th (400m)
Career Highlights:
• 2012 U.S. Paralympic National Championships, gold medal (400m, long jump)
• 2011 Parapan American Games, bronze medal (200m, long jump)
• 2011 Parapan American Games, fifth place (100m)
• 2011 IPC World Championships, fourth place (long jump), fifth (200m)
• 2007 IBSA World Championship, silver medal (triple jump), fifth place (800m), seventh place (long jump)
• 2004 USATF Youth National Championship, fourth place (triple jump) eighth place (4x400m relay)
• Five-Time U.S. Paralympic National Champion (2007-12)
• Three-Time IBSA World Youth Champion for the Blind (2005-06)
*Markeith participated in the 2014 + 2015 Trolley Run
Aaron Scheidies
Sport: Marathon, Para-Triathalon
Diagnosed with Juvenile Macular Degeneration
Proudest athletic accomplishments:
• 2011 ESPY Finalist Best Male Athlete with a Disability
• World record Olympic and Half Ironman distance Triathlon fastest Athlete with a Disability
• 8 Time Triathlon World Champion / 8 time National Champion
• 2011,2012 USABA Blind/VI National Marathon Champion
• 2012 NIB blind/VI Half Marathon National Champion
• 2012,2013 BAA Boston Marathon Blind/VI Marathon Champion
• 2004 Athlete with Disability Hall of Fame Inductee
Mary Winter
Sport: Running, Tandem Biking, Swimming
Diagnosis: B1, Surgery Trauma
Proudest athletic accomplishments:
- The Ability Experience, June 2014
- Old School Run – Trail Run with Challenged Athletes Foundation, October 2014
- CIM, December 2014