Pioneers in Wheelchair Tennis
February 2, 2011 11:29 AM
This year at the ACES Awards the wheelchair committee honored a Trailblazer by the name of Randy Snow. He grew up in a large family who shared two loves--the University of Texas and tennis.
Randy was a national champion at 16 and dreaming of a professional career when tragedy struck. He was paralyzed in a farming accident. Since he was an exceptional athlete he looked for opportunities at U Texas, Austin and found track and basketball. It wasn't until he transferred to the Arlington campus that he became part of the university's nationally known wheelchair sports program and resumed his tennis career.
Snow went on to excel in basketball, track and tennis, becoming the only athlete in history to compete in three different sports in the summer Paralympic Games--and win medals in each. Adding to his trophy case were 16 US Tennis Open titles--six in singles and 10 in doubles.
One of the great innovations in wheelchair sports was the invention of a lighter, quicker wheelchair. Randy worked with Sunrise Medical for 20 years in the development of "Quickie" wheelchairs. His dad said, "All over the world, I've seen players in wheelchairs with Randy's name on the back of them".
Randy worked tirelessly bringing injured children and adults into the game he loved. He was close friends with Brad Parks, also a pioneer who developed techniques and rules for wheelchair tennis play--including the two-bounce rule. He launched his own motivational company NO XQs.
Honored and recognized around the world he conducted camps, held clinics, and spoke to countless groups and organizations. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and was the first paralympian inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.
He has received accolades from presidents, accepted the torch that launched a 10 day, 10 mile journey from Washington DC to Atlanta in 1996 to kick off the Paralympic Games. But no one honors or appreciates him more that wheelchair athletes. He helped opened the doors--wide enough for sports chairs -- so all can compete.
Look for more Pioneers and Trailblazers here in the months to come.