Every year, I love hearing the inspiring stories from the Chicago marathon. This year, I was super inspired by Tatyana McFadden!
The 22-year-old finished 1st place in the women's wheelchair division and will now be heading to London for the 2012 Paralympics.
It's not just the fact that she's an amazing athlete that makes Tatyana so inspiring. It's the fact that she came from nothing and has had to fight hard to get where she is today.
Tatyana was born in Russia in 1988 with spina bifida. She was paralyzed below the waist and sent straight to an orphanage, where she spent the first six years of her life using her arms as legs because the orphanage couldn't afford a wheelchair.
Then a Maryland woman working with the US Health Department visited Tatyana's orphanage on a business trip. She decided to adopt Tatyana after meeting her-- changing the little girls life forever.
Tatyana came to the U.S., got a wheelchair and got involved in many different sports. Growing up, she took advantage of the opportunity and has since become a powerful athlete known around the world. She currently has six Paralympic medals and also won the Chicago Marathon in 2009! Pretty amazing!
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