Taleah Williams

Started: She took up Para athletics in May 2016. She had previously competed in non-Para athletics at high school and university level, and played basketball for Norfolk High School in Nebraska, United States of America. "I know the three sports I only ever played were soccer, basketball and track. I started track and soccer probably when I was about six or seven, and then basketball probably just came a few years later." (One Revolution Foundation YouTube channel, 04 Sep 2021; unothegateway.com, 29 Nov 2016) Reason: In April 2016 she was competing at an indoor university competition when an official asked her coach Chris Richardson if she had ever thought about competing at the Paralympic Games. The official then put her in touch with the US Para athletics director of high performance, Cathy Sellers, who got her involved in the Para athletics programme. "I just think I've always gone to jumping because that's just what I excelled at the most. I don't enjoy running in general. I love the power workouts like hills and stairs, but I've still got to get that flat running in." (One Revolution Foundation YouTube channel, 04 Sep 2021; unothegateway.com, 29 Nov 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (usparatf.org, 13 Mar 2024) Awards: In 2017 she received the Ron Gustafson Inspiration Award from the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame Foundation in the United States of America. (journalstar.com, 02 Apr 2017) Additional Info: EDUCATION HISTORY She started her university studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the United States of America before transferring to Doane University in Nebraska during her third year at college. (doane.edu, 01 May 2020; omavs.com, 31 Dec 2017)