November 18th, 2008
Kathy Urschel - Team Two Mixed-Up 1997 Tandem Team RAAM Finisher
By Kerry White

 

Does the phrase - I want to do RAAM "Just One More Time" sound familiar... anyone who has competed in RAAM has probably said this more than once and for Kathy Urschel - this is her current wish -to compete in RAAM with a team of Tandems. Kathy is a stoker and is seeking a pilot as well as a few other Tandem pairs to form a RAAM team for 2009.

 

Kathy has a list of accomplishments that would take several pages to list but if you had an opportunity to watch the 1996 Olympic Torch Parade through Central New York - that was Kathy bearing the torch and Olympic flame. She then became a silver medalist in the Olympic/Paralympics in Atlanta. She and her partner held the American record in 3K mixed-pair team cycling.

 

This amazing lady has an unbreakable spirit - she became blind due to "a vasculitis of an unknown etiology" plunged her into darkness at the age of 21, and along the way the strange virus also claimed her hearing. These conditions however, do not deter her, adding to her incredible ability to overcome adversity, after a horrifying crash in Colorado Springs in 1999 after competing in the World Track Championships - Kathy was in a coma for 4 days during which time blood clots formed in her legs resulting in a stroke. The Doctors told her she would never walk again - 9 months later she qualified for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic/Olympic games and placed 11th. Kathy was inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of her incredible achievements. This lady is the an example of unmatched optimism and inspiration.

 

If you would like to team up with Kathy for RAAM 2009 please contact Steve Weschler at netchiro@...