paralympic profile

In 1948, Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition involving World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries in Stoke Mandeville, England. Four years later, competitors from the Netherlands joined the games and an international movement was born. Olympic style games for athletes with a disability were organized for the first time in Rome in 1960, now called Paralympics.

Like all Olympian athletes Gregory’s career of training and racing started at a young age. His passion, tenacity and commitment to achieving his goals … always improving have since 1992 left sporting audiences inspired by Gregory's winning performances which culminated at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000.

Gregory’s physical disability has been an inspiration for others and has never limited his winning attitude, persistence and team spirit which have all combined to make him a consistent champion and gold medal winner at numerous international athletic events in the past 23 years.

2000 Sydney Paralympic Games: Sydney, Australia
Set new American record in 200M Freestyle Relay event.

2000 Paralympic Trials: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
3 Gold medals in lead up to the Sydney Games, setting new American record in 200m backstroke events

1996 Atlanta Paralympics: Atlanta, USA
Gregory took the Games by storm setting 3 new world records in the 200m Freestyle Relay, 200m Medley Relay, and 100m Backstroke events and wining a further 2 Gold Medals in the 200m Freestyle and Medley Relay race events.

1996 USA Nationals: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
In the same year, only a few months earlier Gregory set another world record in the 100m Breaststroke event, also setting that year a new American record for the 200m Individual Medley.

1994 Hong Kong Swimming Nationals
Gregory’s sporting achievements were not confined to the Games with him winning 4 Gold medals (100m & 50m Breastroke, 100m & 50m Backstroke) in Hong Kong.

1992 Barcelona Paralympics: Barcelona, Spain
Gregory sets another World Record in the 100m Breastroke and takes home Silver in the 100m Breastroke and Bronze in the 200m Medley Relay.


Throughout the late 70’s and 80’s Gregory’s commitment to an unrelenting training schedule coupled with numerous national and international race meets which saw him grow as a champion as he consistently amassed record breaking victories and medals.


1989 Taipei Swimming Championships (Able-bodied): Taiwan
Crossing continents Gregory joins able-bodied competitors in Taipei to win Silver in the 50m Backstroke and Gold in the 100m event.

1982 Pan American Games: Nova Scotia, Canada
Gregory’s second Pan American championship meet saw him win a healthy haul of 2 Gold Medals, Silver and 3 Bronze Medals in the 50m Butterfly and 400m Freestyle and Freestyle Relay

1981 Stoke-Mandeville International Games: Stoke-Mandeville, England
Gregory’s first visit to the home of the first Paralympics event back in 1948 saw him as Team Captain lead the USA Swim Team and break the world record in the 50m Backstroke and take home 6 medals, 2 gold, silver and bronze.

1977 and 1978
Gregory's first major competition event was celebrated with him breaking an astounding 5 USA records at the 1977 USA Handicapped Swimming Nationals: Duluth, Minnesota. This remarkable start to his international swimming career was quickly followed by a seven medal tally, 2 Golds and 5 Silver at the 1978 Pan American Games: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.