speaker's statement

Despite contracting polio as a child, which required me to depend on leg braces and forearm crutches for mobility, circumstances have not stopped me from living a life of sports and movement. At the age of three, through the efforts of President Eisenhower's personal physician, I began my swimming career in the White House swimming pool. From there I went on to capture multiple trophies during summer camps, which I proudly carried home to impress the family. During high school at the International School of the Hague in Holland, I managed the basketball and baseball teams, which earned me my letter jacket and the Athlete of the Year Award while allowing me to travel around Europe with the teams.

After one year of pre-law in college, I packed up my things and drove across the USA, stopping at the Grand Canyon. Not knowing any better, I set off down the Kaibab Trail, with a pack of peanuts and a canteen of water. Reaching the Colorado River seven hours later, I was dehydrated and almost passed out before being given some water by a thoughtful hiker. The next day at dawn while starting my return trek, a group of hikers approached me to offer their assistance and a mule if I wished to ride out of the Canyon. Though I was touched by their thoughtfulness and tact, I crawled back out of the Canyon in thirteen hours.

From hiking canyons, I graduated to running marathons. In 1983, I hopped the Honolulu Marathon and came in dead last. Sixteen hours after the start of the race, I crossed the finish line.

I have climbed many of the world's impressive mountains. During the 80’s and 90’s I successfully summited Jade Mountain in Taiwan, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, twice hiked down and out of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, reached the Nanga Prabat base camp in Pakistan, hiked to Namche Bazaar on route to the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal and scaled numerous other mountains in the USA, India, and Europe.

I enjoy body boarding in the waves of Bali, Hawaii and California. In 1977 I became a certified PADI scuba diver and have dove in most of the world's oceans. I believe that water is the great equalizer and a unique sanctuary.

My serious swimming career started in 1977 after moving to California. I set world records in events in England, Canada and Brazil. Competing in the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympics, I set four world records and captured half a dozen medals.

I believe that rather than hindering my creative spirit, being stricken with polio challenged me to develop areas of my character that enhanced my message and communication skills. Speaking before international audiences of all sizes, I stress that we must learn to harness the setbacks in our lives which are what push us forward and bring us inner strength.