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Conquering adversity
BY BECCA JAMES
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
Tricia Downing, motivational speaker and marathoner will be in the Library Rotunda at noon tomorrow to speak about her experiences and the importance of never giving up.
In September of 2000, Downing experienced a life-altering event. She was hit head-on by a car in Golden, Colo., while training for a competitive cycling race. The accident caused a T-4 spinal injury, paralyzing her from the chest down.
By sharing her experiences with fellow athletes and UMD community members, Downing hopes to inspire people to find their inner strength.
“It’s not easy to change your attitude about something or to accept misfortunes,” said Downing. “But in doing so, you will find the exact strength that is instilled in each and every one of us. There is a pearl inside everyone and it was there when I needed it most.”
Where most athletes might have given up in the face of adversity, Downing saw hope that she would one day race again.
“Before my accident I was a tandem pilot for a blind cyclist, so I had been in the disabled athlete circle as an able-bodied athlete,” she said. “I really knew a lot of things that were going to be open to me, and that helped a lot.”
With knowledge and determination, Downing began her rehabilitation process at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., which is ranked in the Top Ten Rehabilitation Hospitals in the United States by U.S. News and World Report.
“It was really good and the therapists there are great. They basically helped me get back into my life again,” said Downing.
She wasted no time getting back into her life; writing from her hospital bed requesting a hand cycle, Downing received a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). CAF would later name her as its 2006 Most Inspirational Athlete.
Now, a little over seven years since the accident, not only has Downing been honored by CAF, she has also earned the title of first female paraplegic to compete in an Iron-distance triathlon. She competed in the Redman Triathlon in 2005 with a finish time of 18 hours, 3 minutes.
